Respiratory Therapist ECMO Specialist

Allina Health • Minneapolis, MN

5d • $41 - $57

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapist ECMO Specialist assesses, diagnoses, and treats patients with cardiopulmonary respiratory disorders. Under physician direction, the role educates patients and staff about acute and chronic pulmonary disorders, provides consultative services to area hospitals and agencies, and offers technical and educational support to nurses regarding respiratory procedures.

The specialist assembles, primes, maintains, monitors, and troubleshoots mechanical circulatory and ECMO equipment and circuits throughout the management period. Working with the bedside nurse, the specialist helps ensure patients receiving mechanical circulatory or ECMO support have adequate oxygenation and perfusion, appropriate acid-base balance and hemodynamic stability within ordered parameters, and other parameters as directed by the ECMO provider. The position provides respiratory therapy and critical care support, including mechanical ventilation, extracorporeal life support, diagnostic testing, patient and family education, and mentorship of colleagues.

This is a casual position (0.0 FTE) with 12-hour day/night shifts and no weekend rotation.

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 through 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 is required within 180 days of hire.

Nice To Haves

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

Responsibilities

• Safely manage and monitor mechanical ventilation, ECMO, and critical care.
• Provide mechanical ventilatory support in line with provider objectives and protocols; operate and troubleshoot ventilators.
• Identify appropriate ventilation modes and opportunities to optimize the patient-ventilator interface, making recommendations to providers as appropriate.
• Assess readiness to wean, recognize unsuccessful weaning, and document findings.
• Provide invasive and non-invasive ventilation, ventilation during transport, manual resuscitation using a bag-valve device, weaning assessment, respiratory mechanics and waveform analysis, and non-traditional ventilation modes and techniques.
• Manage airways, including positioning, securing, 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 plans of care and modify clinical interventions based on the population served.
• Make decisions within the scope of practice and in the patient's best interest.
• Collaborate with nurses and providers to align respiratory goals with other aspects of patient care.
• Provide respiratory assessments and therapeutic interventions in acute care.
• Identify opportunities to improve outcomes through appropriate therapies and interventions, and apply approved protocols and clinical indications to progress patients appropriately.
• Communicate with the care team to exchange essential information.
• Conduct diagnostic testing and analysis; complete tests that assist in medical management, interpret results, act accordingly, and comply with related policies, procedures, and reporting requirements.
• Educate patients and families about disease management, coping skills, asthma self-management, COPD, inhaler techniques, peak-flow monitoring, self-administration, and breathing techniques for dyspnea.
• Educate patients and families about mechanical circulatory and extracorporeal life support.
• Practice as an expert respiratory therapy practitioner.
• Participate in evaluating new equipment and implementing new technology.
• Mentor and help 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 benefits.
• PTO and time away.
• Retirement savings plans.
• Life insurance.
• Short-term and long-term disability.
• Voluntary benefits, including vision, legal, and critical illness coverage.
• Tuition reimbursement or continuing medical education, as applicable.
• Student loan support to 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.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Senior
• Education Level: Associate degree