Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist - Assistant Chief

Veterans Health Administration•Seattle, WA

4d•Onsite

About The Position

The Assistant Chief of Respiratory Care Services serves as the full assistant to the Chief of Respiratory Care Services at the Puget Sound VA Medical Center. The role supervises respiratory therapists working in Respiratory Care Services, the Home Oxygen Program, and Pulmonary Diagnostic Services, including Pulmonary Function Testing and Bronchoscopy, under the Chief of Respiratory Care Services and the Medical Director of Respiratory Therapy. The Assistant Chief supports personnel management, clinical coordination, quality assurance, compliance, staff education, and operational improvements across these services. The position helps ensure clinical practices meet Joint Commission standards and patient scheduling meets VHA privacy, timeliness, and documentation criteria. It also coordinates aspects of the Home Oxygen Program, including inpatient-to-outpatient transitions, home visits, and interdisciplinary work with vendors. The incumbent provides or supports patient care for adult and geriatric populations, using physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria and involving families or significant others in care planning. The position works Monday through Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Telework is ad hoc only and subject to agency policy; the position is not virtual. Relocation and recruitment incentives and permanent change of station are not authorized.

Requirements

U.S. citizenship, subject to the stated VA exception for non-citizens when qualified citizens cannot be recruited.
Successful completion of a respiratory care program accredited by CoARC or its successor.
Full, current, unrestricted state license to practice as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), maintained throughout employment.
Valid, current, unrestricted RRT credential, maintained throughout employment.
Proficiency in spoken and written English.
One year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-12 demonstrating the required clinical competencies.
Ability to supervise employees and assist in establishing an integrated program.
Skill in recommending operational improvements, including new and emerging procedures based on data evaluation.
Ability to forecast resource needs and manage fiscal matters.
Skill in problem solving, including conflict resolution.
Ability to communicate effectively and professionally with employees at varying levels of background.
Knowledge of complex and non-standard examinations, treatments, procedures, and techniques.
Pass a pre-employment physical evaluation and applicable background/security investigation; selected applicants are subject to required onboarding and drug testing for testing-designated positions.
Participate in the seasonal influenza vaccination program.
Serve a one- or two-year trial period, as applicable.
Provide required application documents, including an unofficial transcript showing completion of the required education or program.

Nice To Haves

Certification in one or more functional specialties is highly desirable.
One year of creditable experience equivalent to GS-13 demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level.
Certification in one or more of the following specialties is highly desirable: critical care, pulmonary, education, and sleep medicine.
Prior supervisory experience preferred.
At least five years of experience at a high-acuity medical center is required.

Responsibilities

Track staff time and attendance; schedule and review leave and formal training requests.
Periodically review job descriptions and counsel employees on issues that cannot be resolved at a lower level.
Take informal or formal corrective action for conduct or performance issues and initiate disciplinary proposals when needed.
Work with union stewards and EEO counselors on applicable matters and support nondiscriminatory employment practices.
Assist with recurring staff meetings and ensure accident and incident reports for assigned employees are submitted.
Assist in preparing formal requests to fill vacancies, promotions, and details; plan staffing needs and interview and select employees.
Orient new employees to respiratory therapy and pulmonary diagnostic services, and document and ensure annual equipment and procedure competency.
Support development and evaluation of the quality assurance program and audit Respiratory Care Services, the Home Oxygen Program, and Pulmonary Diagnostic Services; initiate or recommend changes as indicated.
Work with the Administrative Specialist and Chief to ensure departmental clinical practices meet Joint Commission standards and patient scheduling meets VHA privacy, timeliness, and documentation criteria.
Monitor Joint Commission compliance in assigned areas, including fire safety, infection control, blood-borne pathogens, chemical hazards, CPR, education documentation, patient confidentiality, employee orientation, and competency.
Serve as a voting or ad hoc member of designated committees, including Cardiopulmonary, Critical Care, Infection Control, Commodity Standards, Home Care Advisory Board, Home Oxygen/DME, BCMA, and Community Nursing Home/Non-Institutional Care.
Assist with clinical coordination of the Home Oxygen Program, including inpatient-to-outpatient transitions under Medical Center Protocol, home visits, and interdisciplinary coordination with the vendor.
Recommend and implement changes to respiratory therapy and pulmonary diagnostic services to improve service delivery and patient care.
Assist in overseeing and explaining procedure requirements; resolve technical work problems using manuals, troubleshooting guides, and other references.
Assist with updating service manuals, procedures, and policies, and ensure supervisors and employees are informed of relevant policy or procedure changes and resource needs.
Prepare formal performance evaluations for supervised employees.
Direct or delegate planning and implementation of in-service education, orientation, continuing education, and other personnel training.
Oversee training for respiratory therapy and pulmonary diagnostic services, as well as medical students, house staff, nursing staff, other medical center personnel, and patients.
Provide patient care appropriate to adult and geriatric patients, addressing physical, psychosocial, educational, safety, and related criteria and involving family or significant others in care decisions.