Registered Respiratory Therapist

Summary

This position is located in the Medicine Service of the James A. Haley Medical Center at Tampa VA Healthcare System. Duties are carried out throughout the medical center including all outpatient locations clinical and other patient care areas involved with the service. Upon successful completion of the required orientation, training and competency assessment at the Tampa main campus, the employee will be assigned to the Riverview Community Outpatient Clinic.

Duties

Major Duties Cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) Duties include, but are not limited to: Independently provides respiratory therapy services in an outpatient clinical setting. Reviews medical records, respiratory therapy consults, diagnostic information, provider orders, and pertinent clinical history prior to evaluating and treating patients. Assesses patients and uses clinical findings and diagnostic information to assist in developing and implementing appropriate respiratory care plans. PAP/CPAP Clinic Provides outpatient PAP services for Veterans receiving CPAP, APAP, BiPAP, or other prescribed positive airway pressure therapy. Performs patient assessment, equipment evaluation, mask fitting, and troubleshooting of PAP-related concerns. Reviews PAP device downloads and available compliance and therapeutic data according to established policy and scope of practice. Identifies potential problems with adherence, mask fit, leak, tolerance, equipment function, or effectiveness of prescribed therapy and communicates significant findings to the appropriate provider. Educates Veterans and caregivers regarding equipment use, cleaning, maintenance, adherence, mask interfaces, supplies, and applicable safety precautions. Coordinates respiratory equipment and supply needs with appropriate VA staff and contracted vendors. Home Sleep Testing Provides instruction and education to Veterans undergoing Home Sleep Testing. Prepares and issues Home Sleep Testing equipment according to established procedures. Ensures Veterans understand proper placement and use of testing equipment and requirements for successful completion of the study. Downloads and evaluates study data for technical adequacy and identifies studies requiring repeat testing according to established procedures. Pulmonary Function Testing Performs pulmonary function testing in accordance with established standards, medical center policies, and laboratory procedures. Testing may include spirometry, pre- and post-bronchodilator testing, lung volumes, diffusion capacity, respiratory muscle strength testing, and other pulmonary diagnostic procedures within the incumbent's competency and scope of practice. Performs equipment calibration, quality control, troubleshooting, and verification of test acceptability and reproducibility. Provides clear patient instruction and coaching to obtain technically acceptable studies. Home Oxygen Services Evaluates Veterans for home oxygen needs in accordance with applicable clinical criteria, provider orders, VA policy, and established procedures. Performs and/or coordinates resting and exertional pulse oximetry, oxygen titration, six-minute walk testing, overnight oximetry, and other testing used in determining oxygen requirements as appropriate. Provides Veterans and caregivers with education regarding oxygen equipment, prescribed flow rates, equipment use, supplies, and oxygen safety. Reviews home oxygen needs and communicates clinically significant findings or changes in patient status to the appropriate provider. Coordinates with appropriate VA personnel and contracted oxygen vendors to facilitate safe and timely delivery of home respiratory equipment and services. Clinical and Administrative Responsibilities Manages assigned outpatient workload independently and completes patient care activities in a timely manner. Prioritizes multiple consults, scheduled appointments, equipment needs, patient telephone calls, and other clinical responsibilities. Maintains accurate, timely, and complete documentation in the electronic health record. Communicates effectively with Veterans, caregivers, physicians, nurses, sleep medicine staff, pulmonary staff, respiratory therapists, prosthetics personnel, vendors, and other healthcare professionals. Identifies significant changes in patient status and communicates findings promptly to the appropriate healthcare provider. Demonstrates accountability for assigned workload and follows through on patient care needs. Maintains competency with respiratory diagnostic and therapeutic equipment. Participates in equipment quality assurance, infection-control procedures, process improvement, competency activities, and other departmental initiatives. Performs other respiratory therapy duties appropriate to the assignment and grade as required. Work Schedule:0730-1600 Monday through Friday. A compressed work schedule may be available after completion of orientation and competency validation. Employees may also be required to work alternating weekends and holidays and may be rotated among all Tampa VA outpatient clinic locations based on facility needs and training requirements. Telework: Not available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21716F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. English Language Proficiency: RT's/RRTs appointed to the direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C 7403(f) Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor. Licensure: Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT. Credential: Must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential Exception: positions will be designated only to individuals who are in the process of obtaining credentials to become an RRT. These individuals will only be hired on a temporary appointment as provided below. VHA may waive the RRT credential requirement for persons who are otherwise qualified and pending completion of prerequisites for RRT credential. Individuals who have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor, acquired the CRT credential, are fully licensed by their state and are working toward completion of their RRT credential may be given a temporary appointment as an RT. The temporary appointment is made under the authority of 38 U.S.C. § 7401(a)(1)(B) for a period not to exceed one year from date of employment. Candidates must hold an active, current, full and unrestricted RRT credential and be licensed to hold a position at or above the GS-07 level. RTs may only be temporarily appointed at the GS-05 level and may not be promoted/converted to a higher-level position as an RRT until the RRT credential is received. RTs must provide care only under the close supervision of an RRT. Temporary RT appointments may not be extended beyond one year or converted to a new temporary appointment. Failure to Obtain Credential: In all cases, RTs must actively pursue meeting national prerequisites for the RRT credential from the first day of their appointment. Failure to become credentialed within one year from date of appointment will result in removal from the GS-0601 RT series and may result in termination of employment. The Human Resources (HR) Office staff will provide RTs, in writing, the requir