Respiratory Specialist

Bassett Healthcare Network•Village of Cooperstown, NY

About The Position

The Respiratory Specialist works under general supervision of the Supervisor, Manager, and Director of Respiratory Care Services and in close collaboration with the Medical Director of Respiratory Care Services. The position assists with developing, implementing, and administering policies and procedures and performs the responsibilities of a Respiratory Therapist. The specialist provides expert-level respiratory care to neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients, including assessment, planning, delivery, coordination, integration, and evaluation of care. The role supports patients through interdisciplinary teamwork, ensures care complies with applicable standards and laws, and serves as a leader, resource, and mentor to department staff. The specialist supports department planning and operations, staff development, training, and education. This includes providing clinical training to nursing staff and providers, training new and current employees, supporting students’ hands-on learning, participating in departmental research and educational activities, serving on a committee, and leading a performance improvement project. The role also helps maintain effective staffing, interdepartmental relationships, continuity of care, and a positive learning environment. Clinical duties include respiratory therapies for acute and critically ill patients; setup, monitoring, and maintenance of mechanical ventilation; bedside respiratory therapy; assistance with diagnostic and critical-care procedures; blood gas sampling and arterial punctures; hemodynamic monitoring; and documentation in the medical record and EMR. The specialist evaluates patients under respiratory care protocols, communicates assessments and recommendations to providers, educates patients and healthcare staff, and participates in quality assurance, audits, equipment and supply management, and laboratory testing after required training. The role also supports transition of care from hospital to home, including coordination of durable medical equipment, home care, oxygen, and insurance requirements. Travel to other facilities may be required for staffing and training.

Requirements

Associate degree in Respiratory Care, or graduation from a COARC-accredited school of Respiratory Care as required by New York State for licensure.
Five years of clinical experience as a Respiratory Therapist or Technician.
Broad knowledge of respiratory care procedures, respiratory equipment, patient evaluation using protocol systems, and hemodynamic monitoring.
Current New York State license as a Respiratory Therapist (NYSRTT).
NBRC Respiratory Therapist certification (RTT).
BLS certification, required within six months of hire.
ACLS certification, required within six months of hire.
Computer skills.
Communication skills.
Ability to interact with people.
Reading, writing, and comprehension skills.
Ability to perform medium physical work: exert up to 50 pounds occasionally, up to 20 pounds frequently, and up to 10 pounds constantly to move objects.
Ability to perform occasional crouching, kneeling, lifting, pulling, pushing, repetitive motion, and stooping.
Ability to perform frequent typing/clerical work, dexterity tasks, grasping, hearing, reaching, seeing/monitoring/computer use, standing, talking, visual tasks, and walking; fit testing is constant.
Ability to work with occasional exposure to bodily fluids and bloodborne hazards.
Occasional travel may be required.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Care.
Pediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS); the posting describes it as preferred while also stating it is required within six months of hire.
Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) / Neonatal Life Support.
Hospital-based Critical Care certification is preferred at facilities other than BMC; it is required at BMC.
Hemodynamic monitoring plumbing systems experience is preferred at facilities other than BMC; it is required at BMC.
Arterial catheter insertion experience is preferred at facilities other than BMC; it is required at BMC.

Responsibilities

Assist with development, implementation, and administration of respiratory care policies and procedures.
Perform Respiratory Therapist duties and provide expert respiratory care to neonatal, pediatric, and adult patients.
Assess, plan, deliver, coordinate, integrate, and evaluate respiratory care based on patient needs.
Provide leadership, clinical resources, and mentoring to department staff; act as a departmental resource when leadership is absent.
Support department planning, organization, operations, staffing, work assignments, and emergency coverage.
Provide clinical training and education to nursing staff, providers, employees, students, and other healthcare personnel.
Participate in staff development, employee orientation, continuing education, departmental meetings, research, and hospital-sponsored educational activities.
Serve on at least one committee and lead and take ownership of a performance improvement project.
Maintain effective interdepartmental working relationships and continuity of patient care.
Perform routine respiratory modalities and specialized or difficult procedures according to accepted standards of practice.
Set up, monitor, and maintain continuous mechanical ventilation equipment for patients with acute, chronic, or impending respiratory failure.
Provide intensive bedside respiratory therapy and document the effectiveness of therapies in the medical record.
Assist providers with specialized diagnostic procedures and critical-care invasive and non-invasive procedures.
Perform routine and emergency arterial blood gas punctures and obtain venous and arterial blood gas samples as ordered, using aseptic techniques.
Report daily to providers caring for critically ill patients and promptly report problems with cardiopulmonary monitoring systems.
Assemble, maintain, and monitor hemodynamic monitoring systems according to hospital policies.
Perform arterial catheter insertions as ordered and in accordance with department policy.
Evaluate patients for appropriate respiratory care under hospital protocols, review relevant history and assessment, classify care needs, present suggested therapeutic programs to providers, and document evaluations.
Educate patients and healthcare staff about current respiratory care procedures, theories, therapeutic modalities, and medications.
Assist leadership with equipment ordering, staff proficiencies, in-services, and network goals and responsibilities.
Participate in the hospital’s Respiratory Care Services Performance Improvement program, assess records for appropriate delivery and documentation, conduct concurrent audits, and report PI matters to leadership.
Perform laboratory testing and quality-control procedures after training, following established policies; maintain and document testing supplies, reagents, and equipment.
Maintain annual competencies and technical competence, follow safety and compliance policies, and report hazards or malfunctioning equipment during the work shift.
Attend at least 8 of 12 department meetings and review missed-meeting minutes and communications.
Use equipment and supplies efficiently, monitor supply levels, and request supplies through leadership.
Accurately charge patients for services through the EMR and clean work areas and equipment each shift.
Coordinate transition of care from hospital to home, including durable medical equipment, home care services, oxygen, and insurance coverage requirements.
Collaborate with Intensivists, Pulmonologists, Cardiac Surgeons, General Surgeons, and Neurosurgeons.
Act as a Clinical Adjunct Instructor for students from respiratory care college programs.
Travel occasionally to other facilities for staffing and training.
Perform similar, related, or other duties as requested or directed.