ABOUT THE HSC HEALTH CARE SYSTEM

The HSC Health Care System is a nonprofit organization combining the resources of a care coordination plan; (Health Services for Children with Special Needs, Inc.), pediatric specialty hospital (The HSC Pediatric Center), home health agency (HSC Home Care, LLC), and parent foundation (The HSC Foundation) to offer a comprehensive approach to caring, serving and empowering people with disabilities. The HSC team of 750 employees and more than 100 volunteers together serve children and young adults with special health care needs and their families at our District of Columbia and Maryland locations.

ESSENTIAL HSC MISSION AND VALUES

Mission Statement
HSC Health Care System provides and coordinates innovative, high quality, community-based care for individuals with complex needs and their families. HSC empowers all we serve to improve the quality of their lives.

Organizational Beliefs
HSC supports individuals and families to maximize their potential. The following beliefs drive our work. HSC believes that:
- A culturally diverse community is a strength.
- Inclusiveness for individuals, families, and staff promotes positive outcomes.
- Everyone should be treated with compassion and empathy.
- Our skillful, dedicated, and resourceful staff is key to our success.
- We must continually adapt to the changing needs of our community.
- Increased independence is an important goal for individuals and their families.

POSITION SUMMARY

Supervise the activities of the Respiratory Therapy department and its staff. Possess sufficient training and experience to perform independent professional respiratory care diagnostic and therapeutic procedures, clinical evaluation of care including the establishment of therapeutic objectives and the review of care. The final and ultimate authority, judgment and clinical decision making are the responsibility of a physician. He/she is involved in acute critical and/or life-threatening patient care areas and situations.

Minimum Education
A.S. (Preferred) Or
Bachelor's Degree (Preferred)

Graduate of a Committee on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) approved program for respiratory care. (Required)

Minimum Work Experience

Six months post-graduate experience in all aspects of respiratory care, including critical care background. (Required)

Neonatal/pediatric experience. (Preferred)

Required Skills/Knowledge
Demonstration of proficient skills for ventilator management required.
Clinical evaluation skills required.
Strong communication skills required.
Ability to handle stressful situations.
Good time management skills required.
Active member of the AARC, and AARC state affiliation preferred.
Participation in activities which further professional growth for self and the department is preferred.

Required Licenses and Certifications

Must meet DC licensure requirements. (Required)
Registered (R.R.T.) by the NBRC. (Required)

BLS certification. (Required)
NRP/ACLS/PALS/NPS certification. (Preferred)

Job Functions
Essential job duties:

• Accomplishes respiratory therapy human resource objectives by selecting, orienting, training, assigning, scheduling, coaching, counseling, and disciplining employees; communicating job expectations; planning, monitoring, appraising job contributions; recommending compensation actions; adhering to policies and procedures.

• Monitors quality of care by conducting weekly patient auditing and interviews; observing staff; tracking key indicators; analyzing quality assurance summary reports; participating on quality assurance committee

• Maintains safe, secure, and healthy work environment by establishing, following, and enforcing standards and procedures; complying with legal regulations

• Operate various types of mechanical ventilators, airway management (such as suctioning and tracheostomy trach care and changes) and administering medical gas therapy as needed.

• Administers respiratory therapy inhaled medications, bronchopulmonary hygiene/drainage; assisting with breathing exercises; monitoring physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, adverse reactions and capillary/arterial blood gases.

• Evaluates the effects to respiratory therapy treatments by observing, noting, and evaluating patient's progress; recommending adjustments and modifications

• Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises and the use of medications and respiratory equipment

• Transports mechanically ventilated patients internally within the organization and externally outside the organization.

• Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending continuing education workshops

• Documents patient care services received in Cerner the Electronic Medical Record.

• Inspect, clean, test and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently.

• Assess clinical staff performance and evaluate staffs level competence in performing work related duties/task.

• Point of Care Testing Coordinator, has the ability to evaluate staff competence of performing blood gases

Other job duties:

• May perform other duties in addition to those outlined in this job description.

Organizational Accountabilities
Organizational Accountabilities (Managers)
Leadership Excellence

• Demonstrates understanding of quality of service and collaborates with co-workers to ensure excellence is achieved

• Innovates through improvement of care and/or efficiency of operational processes.

• Dedicated to a standard of performance excellence and high quality

Collaboration

Leadership Skills

Supervisory Responsibilities

• The incumbent will be responsible for the general direction of staff member(s).

Blood Borne Pathogen Exposure

• Category I: Job usually involves contact with patients or patient specimens. Exposure to blood, body fluids, non-intact skin or tissue specimens, is possible.

Protected Health Information Access Level

• Level IV - Full Access Incumbents in this job may access any protected health information associated to a customer's needs, the service(s) rendered and the position's functions.

Working Environment

• This job operates in a hospital or office environment.

Physical Requirements

• Light Work: Lifting 25 lbs. maximum with frequent lifting and/or carrying of objects weighing up to 10 lbs.

Travel Requirements

• None