Respiratory Care Practitioner, Clackamas

Job Summary

To provide therapeutic and diagnostic respiratory care interventions, under physician direction; based upon assessment and communication with other health care professionals to treat cardio-pulmonary and related disorders.

Essential Responsibilities

• CARDIO-PULMONARY RESUSCITATION: Provide basic and advanced cardiac life support interventions including airway management, chest compressions, and diagnostic measurements. Measured by patient survival, physician observation, quality assurance monitoring.
• CRITICAL CARE: Manage neonatal, pediatric and adult life-support equipment by initiating and monitoring equipment function, management of an artificial airway, patient assessment including provision of invasive and non-invasive diagnostic testing; formulating, implementing and assessment of the effectiveness of a patient care plan in collaboration with nursing and medical staff. Measured by patient survival, physician and nursing observation, quality assurance monitoring.
• THERAPEUTIC PROCEDURES: Assure respiratory sufficiency by performing ordered respiratory therapeutic interventions. Provide a complete patient assessment and evaluation of effectiveness of therapy. Collaborate with professional health care team in development, implementation and evaluation of patient care plan. Operate all necessary equipment in a safe and effective manner. Educate and motivate patients, encouraging self-management of chronic disorders. Respond appropriately to treat adverse reactions to therapeutic interventions. Maintain necessary medical record documentation. Measured by quality assurance monitors, patient report, nursing and physician monitoring and report, and supervisory evaluations.
• DIAGNOSTIC MONITORING: obtain information on patient status by providing invasive and non-invasive diagnostic monitoring of cardio-pulmonary and metabolic status. Use diagnostic equipment in a safe and effective manner. Evaluate the quality of the date obtained and provide interpretation of collected data to the nursing and medical staff. Integrate results of data collection into the patient treatment plan. Maintain accurate medical record documentation. Seek cost-effective strategies that maintain the quality of the data collection system. Measured by quality control monitoring of data collection, quality assurance monitoring, professional staff reporting.
• EQUIPMENT & SUPPLIES: Assure that equipment and supplies are available for patient care by processing equipment for cleaning, sterilization, calibration and set-up. Monitor and document equipment function both during maintenance activities and usage. Report equipment malfunction in a standardized manner and collaborate with department supervisors, bio-medical engineers and technical staff to resolve equipment problems.
• Measured by quality assurance audits, review or equipment maintenance records, department non-labor financial reports, and staff reports.
• HEALTH PROMOTION: Guide and educate patients and families with therapies and strategies that promote the return of the patient to maximum respiratory health. Collaborate with discharge planning and provide outpatient educational interventions as needed. Provide Durable Medical Equipment evaluations and required documentation.