Resp. Transport Therapist

Carilion Medical Center•Roanoke, VA

1d•Onsite

About The Position

The Respiratory Transport Therapist performs basic and advanced therapeutic, diagnostic and life support respiratory care procedures in general, critical care and transport patient care areas. This role involves collaboration with other transport team members and referral facilities, providing excellent customer service, and assisting with family and staff education. The therapist ensures the safety of all transport operations, provides rapid assessment, emergency measures, and transportation for critically ill/injured patients using advanced techniques and equipment. They apply knowledge of growth and development to patient care, evaluate therapy appropriateness, and communicate alternatives to physicians. The position also includes facility-specific support functions, prioritizing patient care, participating in outreach education, and acting as a resource for other staff. The therapist actively participates in performance improvement, maintains advanced skills, certifications, licenses, and continuing education. They are responsible for equipment maintenance and safety monitoring. The role may involve emergent procedures like UVC placement and needle decompression after competency validation. They maintain pediatric transport quality data and provide respiratory care to patients of all ages during critical care transport and within Carilion Children’s, communicating effectively with various team members. The work is performed in high-stress environments, including aircraft and ambulances, requiring physical ability and flexibility in scheduling, including on-call responsibilities. When not on transport, the therapist supports patient care activities within Carilion Children’s, including emergent events, trauma alerts, procedures, huddles, and interdisciplinary rounds.

Requirements

Graduate of an AMA COARC approved advanced practitioner program.
Minimum of 3 years of critical care (NICU or Pediatric ICU) experience required.
Critical care experience is defined as no less than 4000 hours of experience in a NICU/Pediatric ICU.
Licensed by the Virginia State Board of Medicine.
Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care.
AHA BLS-HCP required.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support required prior to completing orientation.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program required prior to completing orientation.
Must possess exceptional interpersonal skills.
High tolerance to stress.
Must be self-motivated.
For Psychiatry and Behavioral Health, must possess ability to appropriately handle/restrain patients who may be disruptive and/or physically violent.

Nice To Haves

Pediatric/Neonatal specialty credential preferred.

Responsibilities

Performs basic and advanced therapeutic, diagnostic and life support respiratory care procedures in general, critical care and transport patient care areas.
Collaborates with other transport team members and referral facilities.
Provides excellent customer service and assists with family and staff education.
Collaborates with other transport team members to ensure the safety of all transport operations.
Provides rapid assessment, emergency measures and transportation for the critically ill/injured patient, utilizing the latest techniques and state of the art equipment.
Uses an advanced level of communication skills.
Applies knowledge of growth and development to appropriately care for patients served.
Performs various therapeutic, life support, diagnostic procedures and patient family education.
Evaluates patients for the appropriateness and effectiveness of ordered therapy and communicates suggested alternatives to physician.
Performs facility specific support functions.
Organizes, prioritizes and evaluates patient care delivered by various levels of staff both in hospital and on transport.
Participates in providing outreach education.
Acts as resource to other patient support staff.
Actively participates in performance improvement program by collecting and analyzing data to obtain desired outcomes.
Acquires and maintains advanced skills per orientation and annual competencies.
Maintains all required certifications, licenses and continuing education.
Performs cleaning, preventative maintenance and operational verification of equipment.
Recognizes equipment malfunction and takes appropriate action.
Monitors safety practices in the work environment and reports areas of concern.
May perform approved procedures, such as emergent placement of low lying umbilical venous catheters (UVC) and needle decompression, after successful completion of competency validation and as permitted by scope of practice.
Maintains pediatric transport quality data.
Provides respiratory care services to patients of all ages during critical care transport and within Carilion Children’s, delivering care appropriate to the patient’s age and clinical needs in accordance with organizational policies and procedures.
Communicate effectively with patients, families, and interdisciplinary team members, including physicians, nurses, EMS, and aviation personnel.
Performs work in high-stress environments that may include aircraft and ambulances and requires the physical ability to move equipment, operate mechanical devices, and meet established safety and physical requirements.
This role involves exposure to infectious diseases, compressed gases, and other job-related risks and requires flexibility in scheduling, including on-call responsibilities as designated emergency personnel.
When not engaged in transport, productively supports patient care activities within Carilion Children’s, including participation in emergent events, trauma alerts, procedures, huddles, and interdisciplinary rounds.