Office Respiratory Therapist

Performs duties within the scope of Respiratory Care. Responsible for providing care to patients in a professional and courteous manner. Involved in a wide variety of patient care activities and accommodative services for patients under the direction of the manager/provider. Implements Physician Orders Confers with physician to determine requirements for therapy. Accepts verbal respiratory care orders from physician and documents accordingly. Performs routine oxygen therapy and diagnostic procedures such as Pulmonary Function Tests. Is responsible for interpreting results and making recommendations based upon set criteria. Provides patient education, results reporting, and clinical documentation as needed.

Minimum Education: Graduate of a 2 year Associate Degree AMA accredited program for Respiratory Care
Minimum Years of Experience: None.
Substitutable Education & Experience (Optional): None.
Required Certifications/Licensure: Respiratory Therapist licensed by the Board of Medical Examiners for the State of South Carolina (biennial renewal required). Certified within 90 days to meet licensure requirements; Basic Life Support (BLS) Certified.
Required Training: General knowledge of medical ethics and confidentiality
 

• Maintains a positive attitude. Has contact by phone, correspondence or personal meetings with persons in other departments or outside the practice; tact is required in these contacts and the employee assumes the responsibility for harmonious relationships.
• Demonstrates responsiveness to all patients and office staff requests and needs.
• Provides the appropriate communication of information to all ages.
• Provides/Performs: Telephones (Answers, Transfers, Orders, and Messages)
• Phone Triage:     
  • Physician - Orders, Patient Issues, etc.    
  • Patient - Concerns, treatment, etc.        
  • Staff - Patient Care, Referrals, Precertification, etc.
• Understands and agrees to seek compliance with appropriate health and safety regulatory agencies.  This includes, but is not limited to JCAHO, DHEC, and OSHA.
• Lab - Phlebotomy (Specimen Collection and Processing; Proficiency Testing; Results Reporting) and Blood Gases (Performs arterial punctures and draws from arterial lines to obtain blood gas samples; Analyzes samples on blood gas systems and interprets results; Performs routine daily preventive maintenance and Quality Control)
• Medication Management: Administration - Inhalants only; Storage and Handling; Ordering/Maintaining Levels
• Patient Care: Exam Room - Preparation & Maintenance; Conducts Patient Interview in accordance with clinical practice guidelines; Chaperone - Assists patients as needed; Assisting/Performing minor procedures; Triage (By telephone or in person)    
• Implement Physician Orders: Confers with physician to determine requirements for therapy. Accepts verbal respiratory care orders from physician and documents accordingly.
• Performs routine/oxygen therapy.

• Performs diagnostic procedures such as Pulmonary Function Tests, interprets results and makes recommendations based on set criteria.
• Responds to "Maydays"  and performs cardio-pulmonary resuscitation.
• Patient Education: Results Reporting and Clinical Documentation.
• Operation of and responsibility for equipment (including, but not limited to, routine maintenance, ordering of supplies, log sheets and cleaning); General Office Equipment i.e. Fax, copier, etc.; Patient Care Equipment i.e. BP, Temperature, Scales, etc.; Specialized Equipment; Laboratory Equipment (Processing): Defibrillator and Pulmonary Function Equipment
• In-service/Education: Certification/Licensure and Competency (Department Orientation, Annual Training, etc.)
• Actively identifies opportunities for improvement
• Log Sheets/ Audits: Samples; Pharmacy; Mayday Equipment; Oxygen
• Instruments: Stock Appropriately - Maintain Levels; Cleaning / Sterilization; Knowledge of and usage; Storage
• Provides Support and Guidance for Clinical Policies and Procedures
• Other: Precertification/Authorization; Coding (E & M / Basic Visits, Office Procedures/ Complex Visits, Surgeries, and Hospital Services); Correspondence; Statistical Reports; Accounts Payable; Payroll
• Performs all other duties as assigned by authorized personnel or as required in an emergency, i.e. - fire or disaster.