Job Description

General Purpose of Job:

A respiratory therapist provides professional respiratory therapy services for a variety of routine and advanced forms of respiratory therapy for the diagnosis, treatment, and care of patients with respiratory dysfunction.

Essential Duties:

This job description is intended to cover the minimum essential duties assigned on a regular basis. Associates may be asked to perform additional duties as assigned by their leader. Leadership has the right to alter or modify the duties of the position.

• Develops plan of care based on assessment data and standards ofcare for patient.
• Develops and implements individualized patient/family teachingplans.
• Participates in discharge planning.
• Administers therapies as ordered by physician according totraining and experience.
• Sets up, maintains and monitors mechanical ventilation systemaccording to patient needs.
• Demonstrates knowledge and use of unit specific equipment andappropriate supplies used to deliver the highest quality patient care.
• Performs routine respiratory therapy equipment maintenance,cleaning/sterilization and ensures environmental safety.
• Documents and communicates all patients concerns during shift. May accept and documentphysician telephone orders for respiratory therapy procedures.
• Manages a safe environment.
• Draws arterial blood gases according to hospital policies and procedures.
• Interprets arterial blood gases and oximetry results.
• Runs EKGs.
• Transports patients who have respiratory needs.
• Participates in the planning, implementation and evaluation of quality improvement activities within department, health system and/orcommunity.
• Compliance with Infection Control Standards, includingStandard/Universal Precautions, Hand Hygiene and Personal ProtectiveEquipment (PPE).
• Demonstrates knowledge and respects patient, service provider, organizational confidentiality andHIPAA Security procedures and protocols as defined under the HIPAA Privacy and Security Procedures.
• Follows establishedHIPAA privacy procedures when using and/or disclosing protected health information.
• Maintains and protects patients rights under the HIPAA Privacy Standards.
• Completes occurrencereports as necessary.
• Attendance at weeklyInterdisciplinary Team Meeting.
• Takes telephone orders from physicians per policy using "Read back" requirement.
• Participates in theaccreditation process.
• Carries pager duringworking hours.
• Covers respiratory needs of St. Lawrence Campus as needed.

Job Requirements

General Requirements	National Board Registered. Active State of Michigan Respiratory Therapist License BCLS credentialed.
Work Experience	None
Education	Graduate of an accredited Respiratory Therapy Program
Specialized Knowledge and Skills	Possesses the ability to define problems, collect data, establish facts and draw valid conclusions. Possesses thorough working knowledge of anatomy, general medical conditions and therapist interventions.