Respiratory Care Associate

Basic Function:

The Respiratory Care Associate provides direct and indirect patient care services for individuals using CPAP, Bi-Level, and Oxygen therapy. This role supports patients in the office, home and hospital settings, ensuring optimal therapy outcomes through collaboration with the Respiratory Therapists, management and other respiratory care practitioners. This role also includes scheduling and coordinating overnight pulse oximetry orders, greeting and checking in customers for respiratory therapy appointments, answering and triaging phone inquiries, and documenting interactions in the electronic medical record. This is a hybrid position which would require in office work at the Schaumburg location and travel to and from patients' homes and healthcare facilities. The associate must report to the Schaumburg office to collect equipment and assist with administrative duties during slow periods.

Qualifications:

1. Position requires a high school diploma or GED.

2. Minimum of two years of experience educating patients on CPAP, Respiratory Assist Devices and Oxygen therapy.

3. Proficiency in sleep therapy cloud monitoring platforms.

4. Knowledge of medical terminology, ICD.10 coding and third-party payer reimbursement.

5. Knowledge of computer applications (Microsoft Office) and computerized charting applications.

6. Ability to communicate (both verbal and written) effectively with customers, caregivers and health professionals.

7. Strong customer service, decision-making, analytical, and problem-solving skills with high attention to detail.

8. Ability to analyze and solve problems efficiently.

9. Strong collaboration skills with multi-disciplinary team.

10. Demonstrates an ability to be flexible, organized and function under pressure.

11. Treats patients, caregivers, referring entities and colleagues with respect and professionalism.

12. Valid, unrestricted driver's license with proof of automobile insurance.

13. Willingness to travel to patient homes up to 80% of the time

14. Ability to occasionally lift and carry up to 50 lbs.

JOB POSITION DESCRIPTION

ADA CHECKLIST FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITIES & REQUIREMENTS, VISUAL ACUITY, AND WORKING CONDITIONS OF THE POSITION

The following is a list of abilities required for this position unless reasonable accommodations can be made in accordance with the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA).

Physical Activity –

• Standing – Particularly for sustained periods of time.
• Lifting – Raising objects from a lower to a higher position or moving objects horizontally from position-to-position. This factor is important if it occurs to a considerable degree and requires substantial use of upper extremities and back muscles. The employee must occasionally lift and/or move up to 50 pounds.
• Light work - Exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently, and/or a negligible amount of force constantly to move objects. If the use of arm and/or leg controls requires exertion of forces greater than that for sedentary work and the worker sits most of the time, the job is rated for light work.

Finger Dexterity - Typing or otherwise working, primarily with fingers rather than with the whole hand as in handling. Operates a computer and other office productivity equipment, such as a desk telephone, cellphone, copy machine, tablet, or computer printer.

Talking - Expressing or exchanging ideas by means of the spoken word. Those activities in which they must convey detailed or important spoken instructions to co-workers or customers accurately, loudly, or quickly.

Visual Acuity - Close visual acuity to perform an activity such as: preparing and analyzing data and figures or viewing a computer terminal. Visual inspection involving small defects, small parts, and/or operation of machines (including inspection), using measurement devices, and /or assembly at distances close to the eyes.

Hearing - Perceiving the nature of sounds at normal speaking levels with or without correction. Ability to receive detailed information through oral communication, and to make the discriminations sound.

Conditions - Not substantially exposed to adverse environmental conditions; tasks are completed in an indoor, office environment.

Mental Demands - The role requires continuous use of comprehension, reasoning, decision-making, and math skills, with these tasks occurring more than 75% of the time.

Physical Demands - The role requires continuous use of seeing, hearing, speaking, and finger dexterity, with these activities occurring more than 75% of the time.

Principle Responsibilities:

Patient Education & Therapy Compliance

• Educate new and existing customers on CPAP and Bi-Level therapy to optimize outcomes and satisfaction, following regulations and company guidelines.
• Collaborate with the Respiratory Care Compliance Coach to monitor compliance reports and follow up via in-person, phone, or virtual appointments.
• Conduct and document outbound calls for new oxygen patient admissions, ensuring understanding of prescriptions, safety protocols, and scheduling evaluations as needed.
• Follow up with customers who miss appointments to reschedule.
• Manage the pulse oximetry process, including referrals, patient follow-ups, and scheduling.
• Schedule and complete therapy download appointments for card-to-cloud devices.

Customer Interaction & Support

• Greet and check in customers for scheduled appointments.
• Respond to phone and walk-in inquiries professionally and informatively.
• Electronically connect healthcare providers to customer monitoring platforms.
• Process delivery paperwork for PAP supply customers picking up orders.
• Provide verbal explanations and reassurance to customers and caregivers.

Documentation & Compliance

• Complete all required paperwork, including Care Plans, Delivery Tickets, ABNs, AMA forms, equipment instructions, and infection control records.
• Document all customer interactions in electronic medical records.
• Verify and document customer orders in the system.
• Maintain confidentiality and follow HIPAA guidelines.
• Report incidents related to patient satisfaction, equipment, supplies, or other concerns per company policy.
• Adhere to Personal Protective Equipment policies.

Administrative & Professional Responsibilities

• Maintain knowledge of the company’s Respiratory Program, regulations, policies, and procedures.
• Represent the company professionally through appearance and patient care activities.
• Triage customer interactions based on acuity and established protocols.
• Maintain appropriate levels of patient education packets.
• Perform administrative and other assigned duties as needed.