Qualifications: Graduate of a two (2) year AMA approved school. Current California Respiratory Therapist license. Current CPR card. American Heart Association approved BLS. RRT or registry eligible by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC). Consistently demonstrates the knowledge, skills, abilities, and behaviors necessary to provide superior and culturally sensitive service to each other, to our members, and to customers, contracted providers, and vendors.
Preferred Qualifications: ACLS and certification. Possess skills/competency with all facets of Diagnostic Pulmonary Function studies, to include basic Pulmonary Function spirometry, body plythysmography, lung volumes, diffusion capacity, CPX exercise testing, ambulatory sleep diagnostics and pulmonary rehabilitation. Basic computer competency. Familiarity with the processing of testing results for interpretation. Effective customer service and communication skills.
Duties: Upholds Kaiser Permanente's Policies and Procedures, Principles of Responsibilities and applicable state, federal and local laws. Complies with organizational rules, policies and procedures pertaining to Accreditation and Licensing (e.g., JACHO, CAC Title 22, Safety, Infection Control, etc.). Treats all patients in accordance with the Patient's Bill of Rights; maintains the privacy and confidentiality of both members and employees with regards to medical records and communication regarding disease, conditions and status. Provide direct/indirect care and service to patient/member groups (neonatal, pediatric and adult ages and classifications). Participate in patient care rounds as an active member of the critical care team. Knowledge of admitting diagnosis and pulmonary pathophysiology for assigned patients; performs patient assessment and provides appropriate therapy. Evaluate and utilize State clinical data as outlined in Departmental Policy and Procedure Manual. Evaluate data obtained from respiratory measuring devices on assigned patients. Evaluate patient response to all respiratory therapy and documents on Respiratory Therapy Progress Record. and physiology for patient confidentiality. Provides treatment services such as: Oxygen therapy, aerosol therapy and humidification, mechanical ventilation and physiotherapy, emergency cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Assessment of patient's condition, includes obtaining a brief respiratory history, auscultation of the chest by stethoscope and performing spirometry, records findings in the patient's chart. Treatment of the patient in respiratory failure on continuous mechanical ventilation, this requires competence in monitoring patient and ventilator with regard to ventilatory volumes, pressures, oxygen concentration, blood gases and clinical changes, the therapist must be able to report and discuss changes in the patient with the supervisor or attending physician. Equipment maintenance and repairs requiring a complete understanding of the more complex ventilators and other apparatus. Rehabilitation, including instruction of patients in bronchial hygiene and use of equipment, ambulatory exercise; this may include instruction of relatives in some aspects of chest physiotherapy. Draws arterial blood from patient for blood gas analysis using radial or brachial arteries. Maintains and runs arterial blood gas equipment in CCU and NICU labs. Establishes and maintains courteous, cooperative relations with the public, patients and other Participates in the transporting of patients requiring respiratory assistance. Transports may be made within the medical center or to other medical center locations. Therapists assigned to the neonatal intensive care unit shall be required to perform the following: blood gas sampling from indwelling vascular catheters; blood gas sampling from umbilical cords; securing of endotracheal tubes including suturing, taping and determining tube positions; ventilator monitoring at neonatal surgeries. Performs other duties as required such as record treatment medications, side effects and patient evaluation and effect of treatment, responds to code blue. Promotes, ensures, and improves customer service to internal/external customers by demonstrating skills which are consistent with the organization's philosophy of providing extraordinary customer relations and quality service. Age Related Competencies Skills assessments and validations are utilized to ensure that employees providing patient care to specific age groups (i.e., infants, adolescents, elderly, etc.) are proficient in identifying the special needs and behaviors associated with a particular patient population. Assume other activities and responsibilities from time to time as directed. Consistently supports compliance and the Principles of Responsibility (Kaiser Permanente's Code of Conduct) by maintaining the privacy and confidentiality of information, protecting the assets of the organization, acting ethics and integrity, reporting non compliance, and adhering to applicable federal, state and local laws and regulation, accreditation and license requirements (if applicable), and Kaiser Permanente's policies and procedures. EEO:
Notes: This is an On-Call position. This position will require rotation through all areas of the lab. Will work Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM with every weekend off. (The schedule may vary to meet the operational needs of the clinic, i.e. Night Clinic or possible weekend clinic).