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 patients, CPR and home tracheotomy/ventilation care instruction to parents of children 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’s medical history, conducts assessments of the patient’s pathophysical condition, recommends appropriate care and documents patient response and outcomes.  

2.    Provides in-service education to parents requiring CPR training, airway management, tracheotomy care and home ventilation management.  

3.    Participates and provides professional expertise, in conjunction with the attending physician, at the weekly in hospital Home Tracheotomy/Ventilation clinic.  

4.    Consults with families, in the home setting, via telephone or email concerns pertaining to home tracheotomy and/or ventilation.  Provides direction, follow through and documents patient’s respiratory status and response to intervention.

5.    Maintains and orders inventory of specialized respiratory airway and ventilator equipment to meet the specific needs of the chronic respiratory patient.  

6.    Attends multidiscipline patient management rounds for chronic and acutely ill patients.  

7.    Sets up, checks, performs specified quality control procedures and operates respiratory equipment, making adjustments as appropriate.  

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

9.    Recommends and administers individualized medical gas therapies.  

10.    Provides invasive and non-invasive cardio-pulmonary monitoring.   

11.    Evaluates patient’s response during testing, therapies and related treatments; makes changes as appropriate; observes and records data on patient chart.  

12.    Responds to cardiac arrests and other emergency calls.  

13.    Attends and participates in departmental, program and health care meetings to provide or exchange information.   

14.    Participates in the education and mentoring of students, staff members, physicians and other health care professionals.  

15.    Prepares reports, statistical information and summaries of research activities as require.

16.    Performs other related duties as assigned.

Qualifications:

Education, Training and Experience

•    Graduate of an accredited school of Respiratory Therapy and successful completion of the Canadian Board of Respiratory Care examination.
•    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.
•    Knowledge of and ability to operate all pertinent respiratory related equipment.
•    Physical ability to carry out the duties of the position.