Respiratory Therapist - Pulmonary Clinic

Carle Health•Peoria, IL

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapist collaborates with physicians, patients, and families to deliver services and manage sleep disorders in the CPAP Clinic. The role serves as a liaison and point of contact for patients with sleep disorders, providing education and helping address treatment questions, issues, and problems. The position performs CPAP Clinic and patient-care activities, including face-to-face evaluations, monitoring adherence to prescribed treatment, downloading PAP data, and making physician-ordered pressure changes. It also supports sleep testing, including home sleep testing and sleep apnea screening, while following department procedures and physician orders. The therapist communicates with patients, families, physicians, healthcare professionals, equipment vendors, and DME/HME companies to facilitate care, resolve equipment issues, and support effective treatment. The role contributes to department quality and operational goals, provides education and technical support, assists with troubleshooting and procedure development, and maintains licensure or certification and sleep-related continuing education. The position requires flexibility with schedule changes and time as needed.

Requirements

High school diploma or GED.
Licensed Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) credential from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR).
Registered Sleep Technologist (RST) credential from the American Board of Sleep Medicine (ABSM).
Basic Life Support (BLS) certification from the American Heart Association (AHA) within 30 days.
PAP equipment work experience.
CPR certification.
Complete 10 continuing education hours per year related to sleep medicine and/or sleep technology.
Ability to be flexible with schedule changes and time as needed.

Responsibilities

Perform CPAP Clinic activities, including face-to-face evaluations of patients with sleep-disordered breathing and documentation through HAC.
Apply knowledge of PAP mask-fitting techniques, treatment side effects, PAP device and interface manufacturers, and sleep-disorder diagnosis and management, particularly obstructive sleep apnea.
Monitor compliance with prescribed treatment, download PAP compliance and data, and make pressure changes as ordered by a physician.
Meet with vendors as applicable and communicate with DME/HME companies to facilitate patient care and resolve equipment issues.
Communicate with physicians and other healthcare professionals about new or ongoing symptoms, persistent treatment issues, and barriers to optimal care.
Oversee office scheduling functions and resolve scheduling issues as needed.
Educate patients, families, staff, healthcare providers, and community members about sleep disorders, sleep hygiene, testing results, treatment, follow-up, and outcomes.
Notify patients of sleep-testing results and analyze results from tests and tools used to diagnose, evaluate, and monitor sleep disorders.
Market the sleep program as needed or assigned and serve as an education resource to the community and healthcare providers.
Verify physician orders and clarify unclear orders with the sleep coordinator before testing.
Prepare for sleep testing by checking equipment, ensuring required forms are completed, verifying patient information and identity, and applying testing equipment appropriately.
Assess patients’ mental and physical condition and follow universal precautions and isolation techniques as required.
Set up, educate patients on, and download Home Sleep Testing and sleep apnea screening devices.
Complete tests on the assigned day without delay, notify the coordinator of changes, and ensure studies follow department procedures and physician orders.
Clean monitoring devices and return them to the appropriate location; ensure patients are charged appropriately and information is organized for the reading or interpreting physician.
Provide input to physicians as needed, archive sleep-testing records, and promptly notify the interpreting physician of tests requiring immediate reading or interpretation.
Work with noncompliant sleep-center patients through communication, education, and apnea link as time allows.
Contribute to department communication, job knowledge, development, quality assurance tracking, and department goals and objectives.
Attend department meetings, participate in LEAN, keep informed about new technologies and equipment, and attend educational seminars as available.
Assist staff with problem-solving and troubleshooting non-routine situations, help develop procedures and protocols, and act as a technical advisor to staff and physicians.
Work collaboratively with coworkers, offer ideas to improve process efficiency, and perform other duties as assigned.
Maintain licensure and/or certification, complete 10 continuing education hours per year related to sleep medicine and/or sleep technology, and maintain CPR certification.
Remain flexible with schedule changes and time as needed.