Registered Respiratory Therapist
Duties for the Home Based Pulmonary Rehab Program include but are not limited to:
The incumbent is responsible for the assessment, development and implementation of an exercise treatment plan in a telephone based pulmonary rehabilitation program. The incumbent will provide education to maximize the patient's awareness of the importance of regular exercise, develop specific and individualized exercise programs, educate exercise tolerance, indications/contraindications, safety and limits as well as monitor the patient's response to exercise. The incumbent will provide patient education in the form of disease management, individual exercise plan development, stress-management, nutritional counseling, smoking cessation counseling or referral, medication compliance and overall guidance to patients in how to adapt a healthy lifestyle. The incumbent will be responsible for screening and enrolling patients into the program, medical history assessment, arranging initial and follow up appointments as well as providing delivery of care throughout the twelve week course, and beyond as indicated. The incumbent will also be responsible for communicating, educating and marketing pulmonary rehab services to the pulmonary department as well as all providers within the KCVA catchment area who have patients that may benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation. Duties for the Outpatient Clinic include but are not limited to:
Assemble necessary supplies for CBOC appointments. Facilitates CPAP/BiPAP set-ups and follow-up appointments at designated CBOC's. Identify CPAP compliance issues and make changes as recommended by physician and setting change SOP, and documents appropriately. Knowledgeable about available mask options and accessories that increase patient compliance. Places consult request for PAP machines and supplies per SOP. Ensures calibration, maintenance, and cleaning of pulse oximeter. Places Oxygen consult. Performs oxygen recertification ambulatory oximetry test, and documents appropriately. Works with Home Oxygen Coordinator to identify patients that can be recertified at a designated CBOC. Performs spirometer calibration, maintenance, and cleaning. Instructs patients through spirometry testing. Identifies spirometry test that meet ATS standards. Identifies and documents any issues with meeting ATS standards. Manages spirometry reports and ensures their placement in CPRS. Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday, 730am to 4pm Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements:
United States Citizenship:
Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Registered Respiratory Therapist:
Has a certificate as an RRT from the NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care) and a registry number, or a certificate from another body which the NBRC recognizes as its credentialing equivalent. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Preferred
Experience:
Minimum 1 year experience in following areas - Pulmonary Rehab, CPAP Set-Up and Management, Spirometry, RT/Sleep Education specialized experience necessary. Applicants with the following certifications from American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network (MTN) are highly preferred:
Basic Life Support (BLS) and/or Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). The selected employee will be required to receive these certifications prior to assuming clinical responsibilities and ensure current certifications after employment is maintained. Grade Determinations:
GS-7. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-8. Candidates must have all of the following:
(1) At least 1 year of successful experience related to respiratory therapy at the GS-7 level or equivalent. Qualifying experience at this level is work which includes duties such as:
administering assisted and controlled ventilation to patients with tracheotomies and other complex medical problems requiring frequent adjustments in ventilator parameters; administering and monitoring advanced ventilator techniques such as positive end expiratory pressure and continuous positive airway pressure; developing plans for weaning patients from ventilators; assessing the respiratory status of patients using data acquired through physical observation and clinical analysis of blood gas data, chest x-rays, and electrocardiogram to determine the effectiveness of therapy being administered and to make recommendations to physicians regarding changes in treatment; performing the most difficult respiratory therapy procedures to maintain ventilation, including endotracheal intubation, tracheal lavage, and tracheotomy care; and providing in-service training to others in various specialized areas of respiratory care. (2) Demonstrated knowledge and ability needed to perform complex respiratory procedures with minimal supervision. Is able to participate with physicians and nurses and other staff in planning respiratory treatment, with great reliance on the individual's knowledge of the equipment. (3) Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide emergency or critical respiratory care; service as a shift leader or supervisor or sole responsible respiratory therapist on a shift; and to plan and conduct training sessions with respiratory therapy students, hospital staff, patients, and family members. References:
VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G11. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-8. Physical Requirements:
The work involves a wide range of physical demands from sedentary work, sitting in a standard office setting, to moderate and heavy physical demands which include the ability to lead exercise demonstrations and transfer patients in an emergency setting when necessary within the facility (i.e. cardiac arrest during the six minute walk). The work will require short periods of standing, walking, bending, crouching, reaching and leading exercise demonstrations. On occasions, employee must be capable of assisting with transferring patients that may weigh over three hundred pounds.
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
The incumbent is responsible for the assessment, development and implementation of an exercise treatment plan in a telephone based pulmonary rehabilitation program. The incumbent will provide education to maximize the patient's awareness of the importance of regular exercise, develop specific and individualized exercise programs, educate exercise tolerance, indications/contraindications, safety and limits as well as monitor the patient's response to exercise. The incumbent will provide patient education in the form of disease management, individual exercise plan development, stress-management, nutritional counseling, smoking cessation counseling or referral, medication compliance and overall guidance to patients in how to adapt a healthy lifestyle. The incumbent will be responsible for screening and enrolling patients into the program, medical history assessment, arranging initial and follow up appointments as well as providing delivery of care throughout the twelve week course, and beyond as indicated. The incumbent will also be responsible for communicating, educating and marketing pulmonary rehab services to the pulmonary department as well as all providers within the KCVA catchment area who have patients that may benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation. Duties for the Outpatient Clinic include but are not limited to:
Assemble necessary supplies for CBOC appointments. Facilitates CPAP/BiPAP set-ups and follow-up appointments at designated CBOC's. Identify CPAP compliance issues and make changes as recommended by physician and setting change SOP, and documents appropriately. Knowledgeable about available mask options and accessories that increase patient compliance. Places consult request for PAP machines and supplies per SOP. Ensures calibration, maintenance, and cleaning of pulse oximeter. Places Oxygen consult. Performs oxygen recertification ambulatory oximetry test, and documents appropriately. Works with Home Oxygen Coordinator to identify patients that can be recertified at a designated CBOC. Performs spirometer calibration, maintenance, and cleaning. Instructs patients through spirometry testing. Identifies spirometry test that meet ATS standards. Identifies and documents any issues with meeting ATS standards. Manages spirometry reports and ensures their placement in CPRS. Work Schedule:
Monday - Friday, 730am to 4pm Financial Disclosure Report:
Not required Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements:
United States Citizenship:
Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Registered Respiratory Therapist:
Has a certificate as an RRT from the NBRC (National Board for Respiratory Care) and a registry number, or a certificate from another body which the NBRC recognizes as its credentialing equivalent. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Preferred
Experience:
Minimum 1 year experience in following areas - Pulmonary Rehab, CPAP Set-Up and Management, Spirometry, RT/Sleep Education specialized experience necessary. Applicants with the following certifications from American Heart Association (AHA) or Military Training Network (MTN) are highly preferred:
Basic Life Support (BLS) and/or Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS). The selected employee will be required to receive these certifications prior to assuming clinical responsibilities and ensure current certifications after employment is maintained. Grade Determinations:
GS-7. None beyond the basic requirements. GS-8. Candidates must have all of the following:
(1) At least 1 year of successful experience related to respiratory therapy at the GS-7 level or equivalent. Qualifying experience at this level is work which includes duties such as:
administering assisted and controlled ventilation to patients with tracheotomies and other complex medical problems requiring frequent adjustments in ventilator parameters; administering and monitoring advanced ventilator techniques such as positive end expiratory pressure and continuous positive airway pressure; developing plans for weaning patients from ventilators; assessing the respiratory status of patients using data acquired through physical observation and clinical analysis of blood gas data, chest x-rays, and electrocardiogram to determine the effectiveness of therapy being administered and to make recommendations to physicians regarding changes in treatment; performing the most difficult respiratory therapy procedures to maintain ventilation, including endotracheal intubation, tracheal lavage, and tracheotomy care; and providing in-service training to others in various specialized areas of respiratory care. (2) Demonstrated knowledge and ability needed to perform complex respiratory procedures with minimal supervision. Is able to participate with physicians and nurses and other staff in planning respiratory treatment, with great reliance on the individual's knowledge of the equipment. (3) Demonstrated knowledge and ability to provide emergency or critical respiratory care; service as a shift leader or supervisor or sole responsible respiratory therapist on a shift; and to plan and conduct training sessions with respiratory therapy students, hospital staff, patients, and family members. References:
VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G11. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-8. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is in the range of GS-7 to GS-8. Physical Requirements:
The work involves a wide range of physical demands from sedentary work, sitting in a standard office setting, to moderate and heavy physical demands which include the ability to lead exercise demonstrations and transfer patients in an emergency setting when necessary within the facility (i.e. cardiac arrest during the six minute walk). The work will require short periods of standing, walking, bending, crouching, reaching and leading exercise demonstrations. On occasions, employee must be capable of assisting with transferring patients that may weigh over three hundred pounds.
- Department:
0601 General Health Science - Salary Range:
$45,880 to $66,055 per year
Estimated Salary: $20 to $28 per hour based on qualifications.
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