Respiratory Therapist

RESPIRATORY THERAPIST INDIAN HEALTH SERVICES CHINLE, AZ

Background:

Our client, Indian Health Services, an agency, within the Department of Health and Human Services, is responsible for providing federal healthcare services to American Indians and Alaska Natives. The provision of healthcare services to members of federally recognized tribes grew out of the special government-to-government relationship between the federal government and Indian tribes. The IHS is the principal federal health care provider and health advocate for American Indians and Alaska Natives, and its goal is to raise their health status to the highest possible level. The IHS provides a comprehensive health service delivery system for approximately 2.6 million American Indians and Alaska Natives who belong to 573 federally recognized tribes in 37 states.

Respiratory Therapy Duties:

• The therapist shall work under the general technical, administrative supervision of the CCHCF Chief Respiratory Therapist or his designee.
• The therapist shall provide professional medical services or direct patient care services under the terms of this contract, appropriate and timely medical services in accordance with the standards of care established by recognized medical care organizations and in accordance with the policies and procedures, Medical Staff Bylaws and Rules & Regulations at CCHCF. The therapist shall be scheduled to provide on-call services after their regularly scheduled shift during the week and as scheduled on weekends. The therapist shall provide medical services in both inpatient and outpatient settings which includes consultation services during evening and weekend shifts. There is some variability of daily and weekly hours based on workload, emergency cases, scheduling of cases and staffing variability.
• The therapist shall provide direct patient care services as follows:
• On a regular and recurring basis, the therapist shall independently provide emergency inhalation therapy treatments without prior instructions to critically ill and high-risk patients who require extensive skill, training and experience. Such assignment occurs when incumbent serves as sole technician during periods when physicians are not readily available. Under emergency conditions, adjust machines providing mechanical ventilation to patients based on blood gas analysis and other ventilator data. Advise physicians on change in the patient's condition and on corrective measures that can be taken.
• The therapist shall set up and operate positive pressure ventilators, pneumatic nebulizers and volume ventilators to administer complex inhalation therapy treatments to patients who are critically ill. These treatments include intermittent and positive pressure breathing, continuous ventilation, oral pharyngeal insufflations by nasal catheter, endotracheal intubation, ultrasonic aerosol, infant incubator oxygen therapy, oxygen tent therapy, chest physiotherapy involving postural drainage and percussion and vibration. Perform external cardiac massage and pulmonary resuscitation on patients in cardiac arrest.
• The therapist shall set, operate and monitor pulmonary functions instruments and equipment, such as blood gas analyzers, pulmonary bedside Spiro meter, water Spiro meters. Performs blood gas analysis to determine acid-base balance and partial pressures of gases in the blood. Calculate blood-inspired gas relationships from raw data on blood and gas analysis. Perform pulmonary functions test on patients whose conditions precludes full cooperation and assesses the accuracy of such test results. These tests include bedside spirometry, vital capacity, tidal volumes, exhaled/inhaled oxygen concentrations, minute volumes, peak flows, lung compliance, inspiratory/expiratory capacities, prebronchodilator and post bronchodilator ratios, arterial punctures, blood oxygen saturations, complete blood gas analysis.
• The therapist shall calibrate and maintain blood gas analyzer and blood gas supplies. Instruct nursing and physician staff on pulmonary functions tests and on proper arterial puncture and blood gas analysis techniques.
• The therapist shall provide technical assistance to other personnel in the Respiratory Therapy Department.
• The therapist shall provide technical guidance to nursing personnel in order to maintain a high quality of service. Maintain records of patient care given and provide statistics for evaluation of audit. Maintain record of in-service and orientation of nursing personnel receiving such in-service.
• The therapist shall provide consultation on difficult cases to practitioners in the same or other specialties and works closely with allied health professionals (community health nurses, social workers, health educators, etc) in the provision of broad health program services.
• The therapist shall provide in-service continuing education and instruct nursing and physician staff on the latest developments in this field on specialization. Participate in professional workshops to upgrade present skills and knowledge. Serve in planning and implementing in-service education programs to meet their needs. Serve as technical advisor and evaluator for the purchase of new equipment and for the maintenance of old equipment. In order to perform the above functions, keeps abreast of changes through review of latest journals and articles in the field of respiratory therapy.
• The therapist shall assure proper care and maintenance of respiratory therapy equipment and supplies. Assures uninterrupted supply of necessary equipment accessories and supplies.
• The therapist shall provide appropriate documentation on rendered patient care utilizing CCHCF's EHR system. The therapist is responsible for utilizing the CCHCF EHR system to obtain, dictate, electronically enters and assures preparation of appropriate medical records for all patients seen to assure the accumulation and organization of all pertinent clinical data needed to provide comprehensive medical care. Clinical data reports shall be completed in a timely manner and shall be maintained in compliance with Joint Commission standards. It is the responsibility of the therapist to use the training resources provided by the CCHCF to develop competency in utilizing the EHR system.
• The therapist shall familiar with the cultural, social, political, geographic, demographic, economic, and epidemiological characteristic of the patients and the communities served. The therapist shall be receptive and respectful of the culture at CSU. Cultural awareness and cultural diversity include language barriers, rural Native lifestyles and native ceremonies. The therapist shall be aware of the basic traditional medicines and ceremonies that are available to patients, from the womb to geriatrics. CSU has traditional providers on staff providing traditional diagnostic care for all patients who seek it. The therapist shall embrace and incorporate these elements into the care of the patients for positive outcomes . The therapist shall complete a mandatory on-line training made available during orientation.
• The therapist shall be subject to peer review per Joint Commission standards.
• The therapist shall adhere to the Safety management reporting requirements in accordance with CCHCF's Safety Measure Policy.
• The therapist shall be responsible for all applicable Federal, State and Local Taxes, Meals, Travel/Transportation. Lodging is available but must be paid for by the therapist or contract agency. Government quarters are available at prevailing rental rates plus utilities, as applicable, if government quarters are utilized. The therapist shall be responsible and liable for the proper care of government owned or leased property furnished in occupied quarters.
• The therapist shall submit a proper invoice as required for payment of services rendered and attach time sheet to verify worked hours. A certification statement of service rendered will be included with a signature from the designated COR for this contract.

Work Schedule:

The therapist shall work 100% of the contracted hours. The contracted hours shall be arranged by the Chief Respiratory Therapist or designee for this order. Tour of Duty: 12 Hour Shifts from 7:00 pm to 7:30 am (30-minute lunch) or 7:00 am to 7:30 pm (30-minute lunch), both with no stand-by coverage.

Place of Performance:

Services are to be performed in the Respiratory Department, Emergency Room (ER}, Outpatient, and Inpatient: Adult Care Unit (ACU), Pediatric Care Unit (PCU}/Nursery and Special Care Unit (SCU) as well as other hospitals, clinics, and other healthcare facilities in the Navajo IHS Areas within the CCHCF.

Period of Performance:

Will be flexible to allow for short term (13 weeks), long term (1- year to 3-year) and, where feasible, include intermittent support to meet unplanned needs that develop on a frequent basis .