Lead Respiratory Therapist

Trinity Health • Pontiac, MI

22d • Onsite

About The Position

The Lead Respiratory Therapist serves as the on-site Clinical Leader, responsible for providing professional leadership and facilitating the assignments and coordination of work for Respiratory Therapy personnel. This role acts as a resource person and can perform all functions of a Registered Respiratory Therapist, including advanced practice therapeutic procedures like IABP, NICU support, and nitric oxide/Epoprostenol administrations. The Lead RT is involved in orienting new staff and training students, representing the Respiratory Care department in various teaching activities for Trinity Health, a teaching institution. This position works collaboratively with the Manager, Director, and Clinical Educator, performing a supervisory role in personnel management.

Requirements

• Graduate of a two-year advanced practitioner - Accredited Respiratory Therapist program: Registry eligible.
• Maintains current “RRT” Registered Respiratory Therapist credential.
• Maintains valid State of Michigan License in Respiratory Care.
• 2-3 years related work experience.
• Charge Respiratory Therapist will consistently exhibit interpersonal skills necessary to effectively communicate with department leadership, staff, patients, physicians and other health personnel.
• Charge Respiratory Therapist will have and utilize analytical skills necessary to identify patient’s needs.
• Charge Respiratory Therapist will possess and exhibit the ability to concentrate and pay close attention to detail for up to 100% of work time.
• Ability to walk and stand for approximately 60% of work time.
• Ability to lift, pull, push and carry portable equipment weighing up to 20 pounds.
• Successful completion of ACLS within 6 months of hire (promotion) and maintenance of competency.

Nice To Haves

• Bachelor’s degree Preferred.
• Respiratory Care Leadership experience preferred.

Responsibilities

• Behaves in accordance with the Mission, Vision and guiding behaviors of Trinity Health.
• Provides professional leadership in the development and delivery of patient care.
• Uses "AIDET" principles when interfacing/treating every patient.
• Uses the concept of "Managing Up" with each patient interaction.
• Provides a consistent experience to patients, families, visitors and internal customers by using "Key Words at Key Times."
• Serves as a consultant, resource person, and role model representing respiratory care in health system committees or work groups.
• Approaches conflict in a constructive manner, helping to identify problems, offer solutions, and participate in their resolutions.
• Maintains the confidentiality of information acquired pertaining to patient, physicians, employees, and visitors.
• Facilitates good rapport and cooperative relationships.
• Assigns and coordinates daily work assignments of respiratory care personnel.
• Adjusts staffing levels as needed to cover emergencies, sick calls, and changes in patient volume & acuity.
• Coordinates departmental response to cardiopulmonary arrest situations and other emergency situations.
• Facilitates orientation/precepting, training programs, skill updates, and procedure reviews for staff.
• Makes patient rounds observing cardiopulmonary staff to ensure treatment is provided in accordance with physician’s orders and approved medical protocol, and that equipment is working properly.
• Functions as a resource person to staff in resolution of difficult non-routine problems.
• Maintains adequate levels of cardiopulmonary equipment and supplies.
• Acts as a resource to obtain equipment in an emergency.
• Performs as a clinical expert in adapting cardiopulmonary therapy and procedures to neonates, children and adolescents, adults, and geriatrics.
• Performs non-routine procedures including but not limited to assisting, set-up and monitoring of the intra-aortic balloon pump device, attending infant deliveries and bedside pulmonary function testing.
• Performs all duties and responsibilities of a Respiratory Therapist per AARC guidelines.
• Ensures treatments/therapies/diagnostic testing is provided in accordance with physician orders and approved medical protocols.
• Ensures that equipment is in safe operating condition and contacts repair personnel.
• Assesses patient clinical situation and collaborates with medical staff to benefit patient care.
• Knows the procedure for oxygen and medical air shutdowns.
• Understands and takes an active role to stay updated on hospital and departmental policies and procedures.
• Assists the Respiratory Care Manager with employee evaluations.
• Provides/completes quarterly feedback on staff related to competency validations for bi-yearly evaluation.
• Records attendance variations.
• Prioritizes and addresses conflicting requests calmly and in line with guiding behaviors.
• Understands and is able to communicate the Electronic medical record at the Super user level.
• Leads a department work group and/or actively participates in a collaborative work group.
• Assists in collecting and reviewing quality assurance data and planning appropriate quality improvements plans.
• Adapts educational & training materials to the needs of age specific populations.
• Provides feedback and/or initiating disciplinary actions in day-to-day operations with staff and/or education coordinator when applicable.
• Assists with development and revision of departmental policies and procedures.
• Assists Manager/Director with interviewing and hiring.
• Actively involved in coordinating, and collaboration of respiratory care related research activities, data collection, quality assurance etc.
• Responsible for own education for professional growth and maintains log of activities.
• Completes Health Stream yearly on a timely basis per SJMHS standards.
• Completes all Mandatory reviews and in-services in a timely manner.

Benefits

• Trinity Health is one of the largest not-for-profit, faith-based health care systems in the nation.
• Nationally recognized for care and experience.
• Invested $1.5 billion in our communities through charity care and other community benefit programs.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Mid Level
• Education Level: Associate degree