In an environment of continuous quality improvement, as an integral member of the healthcare team, the Float Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) utilizes clinical respiratory and critical thinking skills to assess, treat and care for patients at all Memorial Health System locations. Will be scheduled at a location. Will be expected to float to any location at any given time to provide respiratory care where needed. The Float Respiratory Care Practitioner provides therapeutic and diagnostic respiratory care to patients of all ages. Responsible for the operation and maintenance of respiratory therapy equipment. Interacts daily with physicians and nurses to provide quality and safe respiratory care. Exhibits the MHS Standards of Excellence and exercises strict confidentiality at all times.

 

Job Functions:

Assesses patient need for respiratory therapy by interviewing patients, performing limited physical examinations, reviewing, and evaluating existing data, developing a respiratory plan of care. Initiates, conducts, and evaluates efficacy of therapeutic interventions and recommends changes to the respiratory plan of care for goal achievement and successful outcomes. Performs and consistently completes quality blood gas draws, analysis, and reporting of results including critical value reporting. Accurately evaluates results and makes clinical and critical decisions accordingly. Is responsible for evaluating quality control, system maintenance and proficiency testing. Maintains compliance with CAP and CLIA requirements. Responsible for the operation verification procedures, cleaning/disinfection, calibration, set-up, maintenance, troubleshooting and transportation of respiratory care equipment. Maintains par levels of supplies including stocking of airway carts and boxes, and baby warmers in EDs. Provides patient education for medications and their side effects and for disease management using COPD Stop Light Criteria. Performs quality EKGs and scans medications for patient safety. Uses clinical and critical thinking skills to provide critical care. Independently, provides critical care including, but not limited to application of invasive and noninvasive mechanical ventilation, medical gases, patient care transports, resuscitation, airway care, high risk deliveries and rapid response calls. Actively participates in ICU rounding. Responsible for accurate documentation, billing procedures, patient tracking and reports. Actively participates in quality and safety through tracking, reporting, and recommendations for improvement. Assumes all other duties and responsibilities as necessary.