Respiratory Therapist ECMO Specialist

Allina Health•Minneapolis, MN

5d•$41 - $57•Onsite

About The Position

Allina Health is hiring a Respiratory Therapist ECMO Specialist to assess, diagnose, and treat patients with cardiopulmonary respiratory disorders. Under physician direction, the specialist educates patients and staff about acute and chronic pulmonary disorders, provides consultative services to area hospitals and agencies, and supports nurses with respiratory procedures. The role also assembles, primes, maintains, monitors, and troubleshoots mechanical circulatory and ECMO equipment and circuits throughout treatment. Working alongside bedside nurses, the specialist helps ensure adequate oxygenation and perfusion, appropriate acid-base balance and hemodynamic stability, and compliance with parameters ordered by the ECMO provider. The position provides respiratory therapy and mechanical circulatory/extracorporeal life support to adult patients, including management of ventilation, ECMO, and critical care. It includes acute-care assessment and interventions, diagnostic testing and analysis, patient and family education, and collaboration with nurses and providers. The specialist also practices as an expert respiratory therapy practitioner, evaluates and implements technology, and mentors and trains respiratory therapists and ECMO specialists. This is a 0.9 FTE position, listed as 72 hours per two-week pay period, with 12-hour day and night shifts and an every-third-weekend rotation. The location is 2800 10th Ave Receiving Dock, Minneapolis, Minnesota. The pay range is $41.28–$57.11 per hour. A starting bonus of up to $7,500 is available to eligible external candidates.

Requirements

Associate degree from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC)-accredited Respiratory Care Program.
At least 3 years of experience in a critical care setting.
At least 3 years of experience as a Respiratory Therapist.
Licensed Respiratory Therapist from the Minnesota Board of Medical Practice.
Registered Respiratory Therapist credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care.
Meet at least one of the following: current American Heart Association ACLS certification; current American Red Cross ALS certification; or Allina in-house ACLS training within 60 days of hire.
PALS (Pediatric Advanced Life Support) certification within 180 days of hire.
Ability to lift up to 32 pounds occasionally and up to 25 pounds frequently.

Nice To Haves

Bachelor’s degree or higher from a CoARC-accredited Respiratory Care Program, or a degree in perfusion or another health science-related program.
At least 3 years of experience as an ECMO specialist.
Neonatal Resuscitation (NRP) certification.
Registered Respiratory Therapy—Adult Critical Care Specialty credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care.

Responsibilities

Provide safe and effective management and monitoring of mechanical ventilation, ECMO, and critical care.
Provide mechanical ventilatory support according to provider objectives and protocols; operate and troubleshoot ventilators.
Assess ventilation modes and patient-ventilator interfaces, recommend adjustments to providers, assess readiness to wean, and identify and document weaning failures.
Provide invasive and non-invasive ventilation, ventilation during transport, manual resuscitation, weaning assessments, respiratory mechanics and waveform analysis, and non-traditional ventilation modes and techniques.
Manage airways, including positioning, security, humidification selection, and suctioning.
Provide mechanical circulatory and extracorporeal life support to adult patients.
Assemble, monitor, and assess extracorporeal life-support equipment, circuits, and adjunct therapies, including ultrafiltration and continuous A-V hemodialysis.
Individualize care plans and modify clinical interventions to meet patient and population needs.
Collaborate with nurses and providers to align respiratory goals with other aspects of patient care and communicate essential information to the care team.
Provide respiratory assessment and therapeutic intervention in acute care; identify opportunities to improve outcomes through appropriate therapies and interventions.
Apply approved protocols and clinical indications to progress patients appropriately.
Conduct diagnostic testing and analysis, interpret results, and complete required reports and processing in accordance with policy and procedure.
Educate patients and families about disease management, coping skills, asthma self-management, COPD, inhaler techniques, peak-flow monitoring, and breathing techniques.
Educate patients and families about mechanical circulatory and extracorporeal life support.
Participate in evaluation of new equipment and implementation of new technology.
Mentor and train new Respiratory Therapists and Respiratory Therapist ECMO Specialists.
Promote a culture of improvement, efficiency, and innovative thinking.
Perform other duties as assigned.

Benefits

Medical and dental coverage.
PTO/time away.
Retirement savings plans.
Life insurance.
Short-term and long-term disability coverage.
Voluntary benefits, including vision, legal, and critical illness coverage.
Tuition reimbursement or continuing medical education, as applicable.
Student loan support benefits to help navigate the Federal Public Service Loan Forgiveness Program.
Well-being resources, including well-being dollars, dedicated well-being navigators, programs, activities, personal coaching, and tools.
Up to $7,500 starting bonus for eligible external talent.