Job Summary:

In accordance with the Purpose, Vision, Values and Coast Salish Teachings, and strategic direction of PHSA, safety, including both patient and employee safety, is a priority and a responsibility shared by everyone at PHSA. As such, the requirement to continuously improve quality and safety is inherent in all aspects of this position.

The Respiratory Therapist provides routine and intensive cardio-respiratory care to infants with complex chronic respiratory conditions, providing CPR/airway management instruction home oxygen and home tracheotomy/ventilation care instruction to parents of infants requiring the services of the provincial home tracheotomy/ventilation program in accordance with established polices, procedures, clinical pathways and professional standards.

Duties/Accountabilities:

1.    Reviews patient medical history, provides a comprehensive respiratory assessment and recommends appropriate respiratory care.  Documents and communicates patient response and outcomes to the interprofessional team.  

2.    Provides instruction and follow up for parents requiring CPR training/airway management, home oxygen, tracheotomy care, ventilation management and any other child specific respiratory care in the home by identifying instructional and informational needs, demonstrating modalities, and ensuring optimal performance and integration of equipment.  Monitors and assesses patient status to measure and trend for better control and awareness of respiratory health status.  

3.    In collaboration with the Neonatal Program and other members of the inter-disciplinary health care team assists or leads in the development of patient specific respiratory discharge care plans by performing assessments, determining needs, planning and documenting respiratory equipment and/or respiratory therapies in the home to ensure optimum discharge care.

4.    In collaboration with the Neonatal Program Respiratory Therapy Supervisor, Neonatal Program Educators, Respiratory Therapy Educator (instructor) and the Discharge Planning and Family Education Coordinator develops and revises standard discharge respiratory education materials for patients with complex respiratory problems as required.

5.    Collaborates with Professional Practice Leader and other designated staff to ensure consistency of respiratory standards/competencies through methods such as identifying processes/forms which require improvement, drafting/revising documentation for review, and providing input to improve patient and family care; implements new procedures/standards/protocols as approved.

6.    Coordinates the day-to-day operations of the Neonatal Program Home Oxygen Program by methods such as preparing patient respiratory history, communicating with the home oxygen provider(s) and completing Provincial Home Oxygen paper work; provides reports on program utilization and outcomes.    

7.    Identifies to the Neonatal Program Health Care Team risk factors for patients requiring complex respiratory care.  Collaborates with the team to develop a plan of care to address these concerns.  Supports ongoing quality and safely initiatives such as participating in mock codes and Neonatal Program Committees as required.

8.    Acts as a respiratory resource for families with infants with chronic respiratory issues by providing consultations, recommendations, and advice regarding the selection and use of respiratory equipment and/or specialized respiratory care in the home; provides problem solving assistance as required including identification of appropriate funding sources.  

9.    Under the direction of the Neonatal Program Respiratory Therapy Supervisor may provide respiratory assessments and/or weaning of oxygen in the Neonatal Follow Up Clinic and/or Medical Day Unit in collaboration with the Neonatologist.  Documents and communicates patient’s respiratory status and response to intervention.

10.    In conjunction with the Neonatal Program Equipment Coordinator, orders and maintains inventory of specialized respiratory equipment to meet the specific needs of the Neonatal Program respiratory patients.   

11.    Attends interdisciplinary patient management rounds/care conferences for chronic respiratory patients.  

12.    Sets up, performs specified quality control procedures and operates respiratory equipment, making adjustments as appropriate both in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and in the preparation of equipment for patient discharge.    

13.    Initiates, monitors and assesses ventilator dependent patients as per care protocols and daily care plans.  

14.    Recommends and administers individualized medical gas therapies by initiating, troubleshooting and monitoring equipment to ensure safe and effective supply of medical gases as determined by initial client assessment.  

15.    Provides invasive and non-invasive cardio-pulmonary monitoring by performing duties such as selecting, setting up and calibrating invasive and non-invasive monitoring equipment and integrating equipment to the patient.  Operates and adjusts equipment by testing and evaluating patient's progress and revising treatment plan as required.   

16.    Evaluates patient’s response during testing, therapies and related treatments by monitoring and assessing patient status and ensuring optimal performance and integration of equipment; makes changes as appropriate; observes and records data on patient chart.  

17.    Responds to cardiac arrests and other emergency calls within the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit to ensure the safe and appropriate application of a variety of life support equipment in the ventilation of the patient and maintenance of a clear airway.  

18.    Attends and participates in departmental, program and health care meetings by performing duties such as identifying matters for discussion and providing input into the development of, or changes to, selected policies, procedures or protocols to promote improvements to patient and family care and to ensure that services are provided in the most efficient and effective way.   

19.    Participates in the education and mentoring of students, staff members, physicians and other health care professionals by demonstrating technical and therapeutic procedures, usage of equipment, and interpretation of tests and providing input as required on individual's progress in achieving established standards of practice.  

20.    Prepares reports, statistical information and summaries of research activities as required by Program Manager, Respiratory Professional Practice Leader and/or designate.   

21.    Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience

•    Graduate of an accredited school of Respiratory Therapy, successful completion of the Canadian Board of Respiratory Care examination and a minimum of three years of neonatal respiratory care experience or an equivalent combination of education, training and experience.
•    Eligible for membership with the British Society of Respiratory Therapists (BCSRT) and the Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists (CSRT).
•    Successful completion of a Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation Instructor’s Program.
•    Current Basic Life Support certification.
•    Current Neonatal Resuscitation Program certification.

Skills and Abilities

•    Ability to communicate effectively both verbally and in writing.
•    Ability to organize work, set priorities, meets deadlines and function efficiently despite interruptions and workload fluctuations.
•    Ability to collaborate effectively with all team members.
•    Critical thinking skills.
•    Ability to develop and deliver educational programs for parents of infants requiring respiratory support within the home.
•    Knowledge of and ability to operate all pertinent respiratory related equipment.
•    Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.