Transport Team Respiratory Therapist - Variable Shifts

Company: UPMC - Pittsburgh Medical Center
Location: Harrisburg
Posted on: November 19, 2023

Job Description:

Job Description:

Purpose:Initiate and administer all levels of respiratory care to patients with cardiovascular diseases and dysfunctions and administer care for the prevention of such dysfunctions and diseases. The transport therapist will maintain skills and knowledge sufficient to provide safe, effective and appropriate care to all ages of patients including neonates, infants, toddlers, children, adolescents and adults.Responsibilities:\n\nProvides for and maintains professional growth of self and others.\nUtilizes effective communication skills and conveys and supports the mission of UPMC Harrisburg with referring hospital staff, EMS providers and multiple disciplines as well as members of the organization.\nAssesses and interprets both clinical and laboratory data pertaining to the physiologic status of the patient at the time of initial transfer request.\nFunctions as an integral team member. Assesses patients, follows written protocols, and communicates with the team leader, referring staff and CHP. Contributes to the formation of a plan of care. In coordination with the team leader exercises independent judgment when sudden clinical changes occur. Effectively deals with parents and referring hospital staff.\nMaintains a safe environment and infection control policies in accordance with policy and safety regulations.\nMaintains knowledge/clinical competence and purses a program of self-development by attending continuing education programs and reviewing current literature.\nDraws arterial, venous, and capillary blood gases, interprets their values, and determines and implements appropriate ventilator adjustment(s) considering age, diagnosis, and clinical status and established protocols.\nImplements evidence-based practice initiatives and serves as a role model to UPMC Harrisburg respiratory therapists relative to such practice. Promotes research by examining patient/family outcomes and seeking opportunities to find better ways to provide care.\nDemonstrates critical thinking skills (in coordination with the Team Leader) regarding patient care: - Under the direct supervision of the team leader/RN may assist in preparing and/or administering intravenous fluids including volume expanders. - In collaboration with transport RN, recognizes and manages patients with respiratory illnesses and/or airway compromise. Facilitates and initiates a plan of care based on protocols and standards of care. Communicates results to transport physician who may be remote from the field. - In collaboration with RN, participates in deciding if CHP physician presence is needed during transport.\nContributes to the development of the overall goals and plans for the patient care division.\nPerforms advanced procedures including intravenous/intraosseous access, intubation, bag/mask ventilation, management of the difficult airway including the use of advanced surgical airway, hand jet ventilation, and Laryngeal Mask Airway (LMA).\nCollaborates with the transport nurse regarding all resources and decision making to provide a safe environment for patient and crew. Maintains knowledge of the safety procedures for all types of vehicles utilized. Calculates the medical gas needs for each trip to ensure safe transport. Shares role of safety officer with the transport nurse on all helicopter and fixed wing flights.\nPerforms the duties of an RRT: - Prepares, maintains, and operates mechanical ventilators and specialty gas systems (Nitric oxide and Heliox). - Effectively troubleshoots and adapts to changes in patient condition, environmental and mechanical changes. - Determines appropriate aerosolized medications utilizing written protocols and guidelines while ensuring effectively delivers medication.\nInitiates and adjust mechanical ventilation, surfactant replacement therapy, and specialty gas therapy based on protocols and accepted standards of care in the transport environment when the CHP physician is remote from the referring facility or transport field.\nAble to adapt equipment used in multiple environments, operates, troubleshoots and maintains multiple fixed (hospital) and portable (D, E, M, and H cylinders) medical gas systems, including liquid oxygen and cascade oxygen arrangements.\n\nGraduate of a Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) approved respiratory program.\nAssociate's degree is required; Bachelor's degree is preferred.\nMinimum 2 years pediatric OR neonatal critical care experience in order to acquire an advanced comprehensive of physiology, pathophysiology and psychology of the child.\nNALS, PALS within 1 year of hire.\nAll applicants for employment as a member of the Transport Team Flight Program must meet the following specific requirements: (1) Height may not exceed 6 ft. 2 in. (2) Weight may not exceed 210 lbs.\nSpecial skills and abilities required:\n\n1. Analytical ability necessary to assess and evaluate patient's condition and utilize professional judgement in planning and providing comprehensive care to patients according to the child's functional development level. Ability to integrate patient related data from various sources into the plan of care and appraisal of condition.\n2. Completion of requirements needed to function in the transport therapist advanced clinical role. This includes didactic, clinical and OR rotation. Ability to successfully complete a clinical written test with 85% or better competency.\n3. Successfully complete Operating Room clinical rotation for airway management. Knowledge to perform the following procedures: endotracheal intubation, advanced surgical airway (cricothyrotomy) intraosseous cannulation.\n4 Interpersonal skills necessary to communicate with patients, families, medical personnel, and other members of the health care team. Ability to regularly interact with patients of various developmental levels in sensitive situations over extended time periods, explaining treatments and providing comfort/support. Ability to work cooperatively within the framework of the nursing team and to work with transport physician and transport nurse to provide comprehensive care.\n5. Knowledge of growth and development in the assessment and interaction of patients and families.\n6. Emotional/mental ability to perform effectively and efficiently in an unpredictable, ever-changing. unfamiliar transport environment where resources are limited.Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:CPR required based on AHA standards that include both a didactic and skills demonstration component within 30 days of hire\n\n\nBasic Life Support (BLS) OR Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)\nOsteopathic Respiratory Care OR Respiratory Care Practitioners (RCP)\nAct 31 Child Abuse Reporting with renewal\nAct 33 with renewal\nAct 34\nAct 73 FBI Clearance with renewal\n\n UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran

Keywords: UPMC - Pittsburgh Medical Center, Harrisburg , Transport Team Respiratory Therapist - Variable Shifts, Healthcare , Harrisburg, Pennsylvania