Director of Respiratory Therapy Job Opening

Plantation Nursing and Rehab Center/ Kidz Korner

Job Description

Director of Respiratory Therapy

Position Summary

The Director of Respiratory Therapy is responsible for coordinating all respiratory care in the pediatric facility. This includes, but is not limited to: orientation and training of all respiratory staff in the facility, clinical assessments, marketing, adherence to budget, and meeting state licensure requirements. Assists, as necessary, the respiratory department in case management. Acts as clinical liaison and formulates relationships with hospitals, insurance companies, other major referral sources, staff, and family. Responsible for direct care, equipment management and other respiratory related duties relevant to delivery of quality care in a safe environment according to the interdisciplinary care plan approach.

Organizational Relationships

• Reports to the Administrator of Pediatric Facility
• Supervises Respiratory Therapists
• Works at maintaining a good rapport and cooperative interdepartmental

relationships with all personnel, demonstrates a team attitude

• Consistently develops a therapeutic relationship with the resident; maintains a proper perspective between personal and professional affairs
• Inspires confidence from residents, visitors, family and staff by performing

and communicating in a highly professional manner at all times

Qualifications

• Current State of Florida licensure and RRT credentials
• Acute care and/or long term care pediatric and/or geriatric experience
• CPR Certification/PALS Certification for pediatrics
• Proficient in airway and ventilator management for children and/or adults
• Ability to communicate effectively
• Ability to work with others as a team
• Must be able to function independently
• Must demonstrate good judgment, tact, and patience with others

Experience: Minimal three years experience in acute care and/or rehab setting. Minimal three years experience in a supervisory capacity in a health care setting. Prior experience in long term care, discharge planning or marketing preferred

Knowledge/Skills: Knowledge of the federal, state and local regulations that affect respiratory care delivery. Ability to manage people and work effectively with all persons and disciplines. Must be of good moral character and have sincere desire to work with residents, staff, visitors, insurance personnel and family members.

Duties & Responsibilities

The following statements reflect the general duties considered necessary to describe the principal functions of the job as identified. It shall not be considered as a complete description of all the work requirements and expectations that may be inherent in the position.

• Responsible for initial orientation of all new staff to the department/facility and policies and procedures of the department.

• Gives input to the Administrator on goals and objectives for the department and implements activities to accomplish them.

• Exhibits characteristics of tact, organizational skills and good interpersonal communication in conferences and basic areas of administration, physical care, clinical education and supervision.

• Acts as a clinical instructor when necessary.

• Encourages continued education for all staff, ensuring each staff member gives at least one in-service for facility each year. Ensures staff attends all mandatory in-services.

• Provides appropriate supervision of delegated functions for members of the respiratory team while ensuring that treatment plans are carried out in a safe and effective manner.

• Provides on-site evaluations incorporating contact with Social Service Department; review of the client’s medical record, client visit, and other professional contacts as appropriate.

• Provides coordination of admission of residents requiring skilled respiratory services. Assesses individual’s health needs by reviewing past history, current status and treatment plan. Counsels resident and/or family concerning available services and suitability of resident’s admission.

• Coordinates the respiratory requirements of each patient admitted to the facility and implementation of the plan of care. Utilizes cost effective management strategies.

• Monitors and evaluates services and outcomes through resident surveys, chart audits, defines outcome studies. Assures completion of required quality assurance and program evaluation activities and resulting management reports.

• Advocate for the resident. Respects and maintains confidentiality of all resident records and uses complete discretion when discussing resident information.

• Liaison between the respiratory department, facility departments, referral sources, community and insurance carriers.

• Schedules staff to meet the needs of the department within guidelines of corporate budget.

• Makes recommendations for purchase of equipment, supplies, forms, etc., and submits appropriate paperwork for approval.

• Maintains sufficient inventory of respiratory supplies at all times to meet day-to-day needs of pediatric residents.

• Participates in the development of departmental budgets, monitors and adheres to budget constraints.

• Assures compliance with regulatory and accreditation standards. Provides ongoing consultation regarding changes in Federal and State requirements related to documentation, billing and payor source utilization.

• Attends continuing education courses to maintain skill level.

• Complete required personnel functions: interviewing, reference checking, personnel file maintenance, evaluations and other personnel actions. Provides a program for orientation of new staff.

• Monitors respiratory staff’s skills, performance and documentation.

• Completes biweekly payroll in an accurate and timely manner.

• Maintains appropriate billing documentation, labor logs, equipment and supply inventory.

• Completes all required paperwork within appropriate timeframe.

• Respects the confidentiality of all resident records and uses discretion when discussing resident information.

• Carries out all responsibilities according to the policies and procedures of the facility and within the scope of practice of individual licensure, under the direction of the Pediatric Facility Administrator.

• Utilizes knowledge and skills to assess and manage the resident’s

respiratory status, including but not limited to:

• Physical assessment and interpretation-auscultation,

performing diagnostic studies (ABG, CBG, etc.), sputum

specimens, monitoring, and interpretation of SaO2, pCO2,

blood gas values, and other diagnostics, assist with procedures,

assess resident response to interventions and determine

appropriate course of action.

• Airway management – care of artificial airway and cuff, suctioning,

positioning, medication administration, humidification, and aspiration precautions.

• Ventilation management – monitor, assess work of breathing,

monitor and assess lab values and results of other diagnostic

tools, oxygen and medication administration, COPT, postural

drainage, monitor and assess resident response to interventions.

• Responds to and manages alarms, respriatory distress and arrest

situations quickly and calmly.

• Works as a team with the nurse to meet the resident’s respiratory needs by:
• Giving routine shift reports
• Reporting significant events, changes in condition, and question of injury, problems or concerns, etc.
• Discussing resident’s response to inverventions, course of action and physician notification
• Consult with physician and take physician’s orders as needed

after consulting with nurse

• Coordinating respiratory schedule with other disciplines when

possible

• Demonstrates interdisciplinary team efforts to meet the resident’s needs by:
• Being knowledgeable and supportive of team goals on an ongoing basis
• Keeping the resident clean and dry; meeting hygiene needs, trach care, etc., as needed
• Assisting with turning, positioning, lifting and transfers
• Taking part in managing respiratory needs during activities,

field trips, and appointments

• Develops, reviews, and updates, in a timely manner, the respiratory section of the individual care plan for each resident in conjunction with the interdisciplinary team per facility requirements.
• Attends care plan and other meetings as needed.
• Takes part in pre-admission assessment as needed.
• Is knowledgeable and compliant with state regulations and resident rights on an ongoing, daily basis.
• Maintains accurate, concise, and up-to-date documentation.
• Provides and/or takes part in family or staff education and teaching needs when indicated.
• Promotes a safe and orderly environment and reports potential problems.
• Manages all durable and non-durable respiratory equipment in the facility according to accepted industry standards for safety and infection control.
• Maintain “go” bags.
• Takes part in preparation for planning and delivery care for residents during power outages and disasters.
• Performs any other tasks or duties as assigned.

Physical, Psychological and Ergonomic Requirements

Successful performance of essential functions can best be achieved through consistent application of current knowledge, use of good judgment, commonsense, ability to establish and carry out priorities, effective use of interpersonal skills and ongoing communication with residents, staff, families, inderdisciplinary team members, and other coworkers.

This job cannot be performed without exposure to the stresses associated with an intimate, 24-hour resident care environment that delivers care and services primarily to disabled and congnitively impaired residents of varying ages, predominantly the pediatric population. Essential functions are carried out in a variety of positions, including standing and sitting. To meet residents’ needs, virtually all positions require the ability to move freely through the building. Stooping, bending, lifting, and carrying, as well as other physical demands may be required as described in the Essential Demands of this position.

Essential Physical Demands of Respiratory Director Job:

• Mobility – To move freely throughout the facility
• Lifting – Frequent; up to 20 lbs. may be required
• Climbing/Balancing – Only to access stored items, minimal need
• Stooping/Bending – Frequently required, along with kneeling, crouching and crawling
• Pushing – Occasional requirement
• Standing/Sitting – Frequent movement needed
• Reaching – Grasping, fine motor coordination essential
• Able to evaluate and interpret information and make independent decisions
• Hearing/Speaking/Vision/Color Vision – Needed for communication skills between staff, residents, and visitors
• Able to stay calm under stress

Essential Environmental Demands of This Job:

• Inside/Outside – In traveling between locations, no extremes beyond

routine weather changes

• Cold/Heat – No extremes as well
• Wet/Humidity – No extremes other than precipitation
• Noise/Vibration – No extremes
• Dry/Dust – No extremes as in a health care environment
• Fumes/Odors/Chemical Exposure – Applicable to this position

Job Type: Full-time

Experience:

• Leadership/Management: 3 years (Required)
• Respiratory: 3 years (Required)

License:

• RRT (Preferred)