Lead Therapist/Respiratory Services/Full time/Days

Gaylord Specialty Healthcare is a health system dedicated exclusively to medical rehabilitation. We provide inpatient and outpatient care for people at every point in their journey from illness or injury to the most advanced state of recovery they can achieve. Our Mission: To enhance health, maximize function, and transform lives. Our values: Integrity, Compassion, Accountability, Respect and Excellence. These values guide us in providing quality patient care and transforming the lives of our patients.

Job Summary: The Lead Therapist responsibilities include but are not limited to scheduling, assessing and assigning work load, coordination and education of new hires, training and continuing education of the Respiratory Care Practitioners at Gaylord Hospital. ABG laboratory oversight including regulatory compliance. Other responsibilities include scheduling, reviewing charts, audits, and tracking of performance improvement and key operating indicators.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES include the below. Other duties may be assigned.

• Serves as a liaison between the Respiratory Care Department and the clinical team.
• Departmental scheduling process – Responsible for completion of the six week schedule based on staffing policy guidelines. Return PTO requests per policy. Update schedule and assignments as needed based on swaps, PTO coverage, sick calls etc.
• Assist with audits and collection of department metrics and outcomes. Responsibilities may include collecting and/or evaluating data, education and follow through with Respiratory Therapy team members including reeducation or review of policy or standards.
• Manage day to day operations including: Establish assignments for shift. Redistributes workload as needed based on assessment of workload and acuity. Addresses issues involving patient care, patient needs, equipment and supplies and communicates needs and updates with department leadership. Address and communicate all schedule changes Assist with patient education or discharge orders or supplies as needed. Address equipment and departmental concerns utilizing work order systems as needed. Communicate issues, concerns, needs or changes with the Manager or Director of Respiratory Services.
• Assists in maintaining inspection ready status of all areas pertaining to Respiratory Care Department. Review guidelines and standards with staff to promote awareness and understanding.
• New employee training and education. Coordinate and oversee all aspects of employee orientation process. Meet regularly with orientee to evaluate progress, identify needs and ensure the orientation is thorough and comprehensive to meet department standards. Mentor and support staff acting as preceptors. Training new employees to include all ABG lab education including policies and complete all required competencies. Verify all competencies and orientation packet completed during orientation period.
• Develop, schedule and complete yearly staff competencies based on department need. Maintain documentation of yearly staff competencies
• Blood Gas Lab – Complete / assist with annual competency for each Respiratory Therapist. Perform monthly quality control, biannual sample correlations, calibration verification when required and proficiency testing. Monitor test cards and solutions and advise the Manager of Respiratory Services if replacement orders are needed.
• Maintains inspection ready status of all areas pertaining to Respiratory Care Department
• Has the ability to inspect and test all equipment used in Respiratory Care. Orders supplies and repairs as necessary.
• Creates new and evaluates policies and procedures as they pertain to Respiratory Care as indicated.
• Provides input to Manager and/or Director for staff performance evaluations.
• Cover “on-call” responsibilities Monday through Friday during regular business hours (7a-3:30p) when Manager of Respiratory Services is on Paid Time Off.

Qualifications:

Associate's degree (A.S.) from accredited college or university; Bachelor’s Degree in Respiratory Care or in a chemical, physical, biological or clinical laboratory science with a minimum of 5 years clinical experience with strong intubation skills.

Current RRT certificate, license from the State of Connecticut, AHA BLS and ACLS certificates.

Competent in performing Basic Life Support and Foreign Body Airway Management on adults. Able to provide care to adolescents through geriatric patient populations. Ability to draw and analyze ABG's.

Computer experience preferred. Experience with Microsoft office suite preferred.

Certification and registration by the National Board for Respiratory Therapy. Must hold current license in the State of Connecticut and be certified by the American Heart Association (AHA) in CPR, ACLS.

The employee must occasionally lift and /or move up to 100 pounds.

WORK SCHEDULE: Full time/Days

We Are An Equal Opportunity Employer – M/F/D/V