Respiratory Therapy Assistant

Intermountain Health

5d • $19 - $26 • Onsite

About The Position

The Respiratory Therapy Assistant provides support to the licensed Respiratory Therapist with various duties (e.g., ordering, stocking, assembly and cleaning of respiratory supplies and equipment necessary for patient care). The incumbent follows appropriate procedures for obtaining, tracking, returning, cleaning, and disposing of equipment and supplies. This position conducts other assigned tasks by the licensed Respiratory Therapist in keeping with the Respiratory Therapy Assistant's defined duties.

Essential Functions:
Assists professional staff with clinical services, maintains an orderly work area, and performs clerical duties. Inventories and requisitions supplies and equipment. Maintains daily, monthly, and annual cleaning schedules and documents appropriately. Participates in quality and patient safety initiatives. Identifies potential areas for improvement, including processes that could be streamlined or revised to improve patient satisfaction. Identifies potential safety hazards that may create problems for patients and/or staff and takes appropriate action. Participates in departmental meetings, contributing ideas or feedback. Care sites may add transport as an additional responsibility in the department-specific addendum. "Transports patients to and from treatment areas as needed." Performs other duties as assigned. May be required to float to other departments (within scope of competency and qualifications) based on business need. See the job description for the blood gas technician or EKG technician.

Data Outcomes:
Performs low acuity data reviews. Data entry and extraction. Durable Medical Equipment (DME) Discharges: Review patient chart for DME insurance coverage. Presents patient choice information and documents patient choice. Assembles all regulatory required documentation or forms for DME. Review DME discharge documents with the Respiratory Therapist prior to faxing them to the DME company. Coordinate calls and additional information with the DME company in preparation for patient discharge with DME. Performs follow-up calls to patients after discharge to ensure a smooth transition (e.g., date/time oxygen was delivered by the vendor to the patient at home).

Blood Gas:
(See blood gas Technician Job description) Performs arterial blood gas punctures and running of samples as applicable to the facility. Performs equipment maintenance and quality control per defined processes and schedules.

EKGs:
(EKG Technician Job description) Performs EKGs as applicable to the facility. Assists and coordinates with the Respiratory Therapy/Pulmonary Disease Navigator in arranging appointments (e.g., follow-up clinic and physician appointments, community outreach services). Frequent interactions with patient care providers, patients, and visitors that require employee to verbally communicate as well as hear and understand spoken information, alarms, needs, and issues quickly and accurately, particularly during emergency situations. May be required to be placed on-call during a regularly scheduled shift.

Requirements

• High school diploma as required by the Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments (CLIA) and College of American Pathologists (CAP).
• Basic Life Support Certification (BLS) for healthcare providers.
• Basic computer skills (e.g., word processing, spreadsheets, email and database program experience).
• Manual dexterity of hands and fingers to manipulate complex and delicate equipment with precision and accuracy.
• Frequent computer use and typing for documenting patient care, accessing needed information, and medication preparation, etc.
• Expected to lift and utilize a full range of movement, including bending to retrieve, lift, and carry supplies and equipment.
• Need to walk to obtain and distribute supplies and equipment.
• Pushing and pulling portable equipment, including heavy items.
• Navigating crowded and busy rooms that are full of equipment, power cords, etc.
• Standing in a stationary position for an extended time.

Nice To Haves

• Current Respiratory Therapy Students preferred
• Experience working in a healthcare-related environment.
• Completion of the RT Extender/Aid training course.

Responsibilities

• Ordering, stocking, assembly and cleaning of respiratory supplies and equipment necessary for patient care.
• Following appropriate procedures for obtaining, tracking, returning, cleaning, and disposing of equipment and supplies.
• Conducting other assigned tasks by the licensed Respiratory Therapist.
• Assisting professional staff with clinical services.
• Maintaining an orderly work area.
• Performing clerical duties.
• Inventorying and requisitioning supplies and equipment.
• Maintaining daily, monthly, and annual cleaning schedules and documenting appropriately.
• Participating in quality and patient safety initiatives.
• Identifying potential areas for improvement, including processes that could be streamlined or revised to improve patient satisfaction.
• Identifying potential safety hazards that may create problems for patients and/or staff and taking appropriate action.
• Participating in departmental meetings, contributing ideas or feedback.
• Transporting patients to and from treatment areas as needed.
• Performing low acuity data reviews.
• Performing data entry and extraction.
• Reviewing patient chart for DME insurance coverage.
• Presenting patient choice information and documenting patient choice.
• Assembling all regulatory required documentation or forms for DME.
• Reviewing DME discharge documents with the Respiratory Therapist prior to faxing them to the DME company.
• Coordinating calls and additional information with the DME company in preparation for patient discharge with DME.
• Performing follow-up calls to patients after discharge to ensure a smooth transition.
• Performing arterial blood gas punctures and running of samples as applicable to the facility.
• Performing equipment maintenance and quality control per defined processes and schedules.
• Performing EKGs as applicable to the facility.
• Assisting and coordinating with the Respiratory Therapy/Pulmonary Disease Navigator in arranging appointments.
• Verbally communicating as well as hearing and understanding spoken information, alarms, needs, and issues quickly and accurately, particularly during emergency situations.

Benefits

• Health, Vision, & Dental Insurance
• 401(K)
• Education assistance
• Comprehensive benefits package that covers a wide range of programs to foster a sustainable culture of wellness that encompasses living healthy, happy, secure, connected, and engaged.

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Part-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: High school or GED