Job Details

Under the supervision of the Respiratory Manager and/or Supervisor, the Lead Respiratory Therapist advances departmental standards through the delivery of patient care, including the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with respiratory and pulmonary disorders. The Lead Respiratory Therapist assumes delegated, unit-specific leadership responsibilities that assist in human, fiscal, and other resources needed to facilitate clinical practice associated with patient needs, such as scheduling, training and mentoring of staff respiratory therapists and technicians, and assisting staff with complex patient cases.

Job Description

Summary
Under the supervision of the Respiratory Manager and/or Supervisor, the Lead Respiratory Therapist advances departmental standards through the delivery of patient care, including the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with respiratory and pulmonary disorders. The Lead Respiratory Therapist assumes delegated, unit-specific leadership responsibilities that assist in human, fiscal, and other resources needed to facilitate clinical practice associated with patient needs, such as scheduling, training and mentoring of staff respiratory therapists and technicians, and assisting staff with complex patient cases.

Job Duties

• Interacts with co-workers, visitors, and other staff consistent with the values of Jefferson
• Administers physician prescribed respiratory therapy, including oxygen, respiratory medication, PFTs, ABGs, and all mechanical ventilation.
• Monitors patients requiring mechanical ventilation including clinical assessment, routine rounds, troubleshooting, weaning, airway care, and diagnostic testing to ensure the safety and appropriate care of patients.
• Performs evaluation procedures, both invasive and non-invasive, to determine respiratory care needs, and makes appropriate recommendations based upon department protocols ultimately improving patient outcomes and facilitating patient discharge.
• Collects and analyzes sputum, blood and breath specimens for diagnosis. Measures the patients lung capacity to determine if there are any impairments.
• Offers diagnostic results and treatment suggestions based on the analysis of the patient, communicating across care teams to ensure continuity of care and coordination of services.
• Facilitates staffing assignments to ensure all areas are covered to give appropriate and adequate patient care, including the smooth operation of the PFT and ABG laboratory.
• Collaborates with Department leaders to support the development of licensed respiratory personnel to achieve and maintain staff competency, or other administrative/departmental needs as directed by the manager or director.

Minimum Qualifications

• Associate’s Degree Graduate of an AMA approved School of Respiratory Care.
• 3 years experience in respiratory care.
• Experienced in all facets of Respiratory Care, including Adult and Neonatal Critical Care. Professional competency in the science of Respiratory Care commensurate with the NBRC credential.
• Knowledge of and ability to assess ailments and injuries of patients and implement a treatment plan.
• Knowledge of the medical, social, economic, and other services provided by other departments or facilities, and the ability to integrate these multidisciplinary treatments for optimal patient care.
• Knowledge of and ability to assess respiratory system ailments and patients’ injuries as well as to implement the therapeutic process of a relevant treatment plan.
• Knowledge of and ability to use relevant techniques to prepare clinical specimens, for the purposes of testing and analysis, in compliance with established institutional protocols and quality standards.
• Knowledge of and ability to use medical devices and tools in order to evaluate and treat patients.
• Knowledge of child and adult education techniques and the ability to educate patients and their care givers on the patient's condition, the treatment and medications suggested and given, and the next steps in the patient's recovery.
• Knowledge of the factors contributing to quality patient care, and the ability to influence these factors in a positive way.
• BLS - Basic Life Support - American Heart Association Upon Hire
• RRT - Registered Respiratory Therapist - National Board for Respiratory Care Upon Hire
• RCP - Respiratory Care Practitioner - State of Pennsylvania Upon Hire

Preferred Qualifications

• Bachelor’s Degree preferred.
• RRT-ACCS - Registered Respiratory Therapist-Adult Critical Care Specialist - National Board for Respiratory Care or
• NPS - Neonatal Pediatric Specialist - National Board for Respiratory Care or
• CPFT - Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist - National Board for Respiratory Care or
• RPFT - Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist - National Board for Respiratory Care
• ACLS - Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support - American Heart Association

Physical Demands
Lift and carry 40-50 lbs. Examples: Push/pull patients on bed, stretcher (requires 29 lbs. push force), lateral transfers up to 50 lbs. of the patient's weight. Frequent to continuous standing/walking. Patient transporters can walk 8-10 miles per shift. *Patient care providers may be required to perform activities specific to their role including kneeling, bending, squatting and performing CPR.

Job Description Disclaimer: This position description provides the major duties/responsibilities, requirements and working conditions for the position. It is intended to be an accurate reflection of the current position, however management reserves the right to revise or change as necessary to meet organizational needs. Other responsibilities may be assigned when circumstances require.

Work Shift

Workday Day (United States of America)

Worker Sub Type

Regular

Employee Entity

Albert Einstein Medical Center

Primary Location Address

5501 Old York Road, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America

Nationally ranked, Jefferson, which is principally located in the greater Philadelphia region, Lehigh Valley and Northeastern Pennsylvania and southern New Jersey, is reimagining health care and higher education to create unparalleled value. Jefferson is more than 65,000 people strong, dedicated to providing the highest-quality, compassionate clinical care for patients; making our communities healthier and stronger; preparing tomorrow's professional leaders for 21st-century careers; and creating new knowledge through basic/programmatic, clinical and applied research. Thomas Jefferson University, home of Sidney Kimmel Medical College, Jefferson College of Nursing, and the Kanbar College of Design, Engineering and Commerce, dates back to 1824 and today comprises 10 colleges and three schools offering 200+ undergraduate and graduate programs to more than 8,300 students. Jefferson Health, nationally ranked as one of the top 15 not-for-profit health care systems in the country and the largest provider in the Philadelphia and Lehigh Valley areas, serves patients through millions of encounters each year at 32 hospitals campuses and more than 700 outpatient and urgent care locations throughout the region. Jefferson Health Plans is a not-for-profit managed health care organization providing a broad range of health coverage options in Pennsylvania and New Jersey for more than 35 years.    

Jefferson is committed to providing equal educa­tional and employment opportunities for all persons without regard to age, race, color, religion, creed, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, marital status, pregnancy, national origin, ancestry, citizenship, military status, veteran status, handicap or disability or any other protected group or status. 

Benefits

Jefferson offers a comprehensive package of benefits for full-time and part-time colleagues, including medical (including prescription), supplemental insurance, dental, vision, life and AD&D insurance, short- and long-term disability, flexible spending accounts, retirement plans, tuition assistance, as well as voluntary benefits, which provide colleagues with access to group rates on insurance and discounts. Colleagues have access to tuition discounts at Thomas Jefferson University after one year of full time service or two years of part time service. All colleagues, including those who work less than part-time (including per diem colleagues, adjunct faculty, and Jeff Temps), have access to medical (including prescription) insurance.

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