RESPIRATORY CARE MANAGER

The Respiratory Care Manager manages the day-to-day operations of the Respiratory Care Department for both inpatient and outpatient activities by providing both administrative and clinical leadership for the Respiratory team. The manager ensures efficient and effective departmental operations by planning, coordinating, and managing personnel and other resources in order to prove the highest quality patient care in the most cost-effective manner. The manager of Respiratory Care will collaborate with physicians and other healthcare disciplines to assure optimal patient care. In addition, the manager serves as a clinical and technical resource for staff and other healthcare providers; assists with writing, revision and implementation of policies, procedures, and protocols as it relates to Respiratory Services; demonstrates knowledge of department budget and assures area(s) operate within budgeted guidelines; holds staff accountable for clinical performance and communication; and ensures that Respiratory Services at Riverside HealthCare meets all rules and regulations governing the delivery of respiratory care in the State of Illinois.

Essential Duties

• Accountable to department productivity levels and work functions to ensure proper staff and resource utilization via SMR and productivity reporting.
• Collaborates with physicians, management and other healthcare professionals to assure delivery of quality patient care, customer satisfaction and appropriate use of services.
• Completes patient charting, and ensures self and staff charting is appropriate and compliant with all rules governing the delivery of respiratory care in the State of Illinois.
• Consults with the Medical Director of the department regarding problems relating to the clinical operation of the department.
• Coordinate recruitment activities.
• Facilitate and promote retention strategies and interviews and hires new staff
• Ensures best practice for the service line.
• Oversees QA monitoring and data collection.
• Collect defined key statistics.
• Hold staff accountable to assigned metrics.
• Implements and develops new and existing programming in accordance with service line.
• Works with staff to identify opportunities for program development.
• Is responsible for creating and revising policies and procedures as it relates to respiratory care services.
• Is responsible for establishing departmental objectives and ongoing process improvement in operations and successfully recommends and implements change methods.
• Manages reward and recognition of staff members, develops and participates in activities to improve employee satisfaction and conducts performance appraisals.
• Oversees patient and staff scheduling to ensure patient needs are met (including weekends, holidays, and education time.)
• Oversees payroll reports, monitors and approves vacation, Kronos changes, etc.
• Participates in interdepartmental and organization-wide committees as appropriate and holds regular team meetings.
• Participates in the budgeting process, procurement of minor equipment and capital equipment for the department and submits the budget proposals to the Director.
• Performs and oversees patient care treatment for ventilator and BiPAP management, maintenance and delivery of treatment gases and medications.
• Performs and oversees patient care treatment to include but not inclusive of the following: performs arterial blood gas punctures and processing, perform nasotracheal and trach suctioning and trach care, performs patient evaluations, conducts primary function tests.
• Planning and direction of the overall activities within the department of respiratory care and pulmonary function.
• Provision of patient care 70% of the time.
• Includes overseeing the daily clinical and administrative function of the department to ensure operational efficiency.
• Responsible for ensuring adequate orientation of new staff.
• Responsible for the purchasing of expendables and respiratory supplies.

Required Experience

• Preferred 3-5 years experience in a prior supervisory role or demonstration of strong leadership qualities.

Preferred Experience

• Previous pediatric experience preferred.
• Experience in both inpatient and outpatient settings preferred.
• 5 years experience in Respiratory Therapy in an adult and/or geriatric clinical setting preferred.

Required Licensure/Education

• Current, active clinical license in a healthcare discipline (e.g. Respiratory Therapy, Nursing, Radiology, or other applicable clinical field).
• Associate's degree required

Preferred Education

• A graduate of an AMA approved Respiratory Therapist program
• Current license in the State of Illinois as a Respiratory Care Practitioner
• Current NBRC credentials as RRT.
• Bachelor's Degree preferred

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure/Sensory Requirements

Exposure to:

• Chemicals: Agents used for cleaning equipment. Refer to MSDS Sheets
• Video Display Terminals: Average
• Blood and Body Fluids: In dealing with patients, there is always a risk of exposure to blood and body fluids. Technicians draw blood, work with accident victims, and deal with patients' sputum.
• TB or Airborne Pathogens: There is a risk at any time for exposure to TB or other airborne pathogens, since we are dealing with respiratory patients who are coughing and expectorating.

Sensory requirements (speech, vision, smell, hearing, touch):

• Speech: Needed for communication with other hospital personnel and patients.
• Vision: Needed to make observations of patient's status; read and monitor equipment.
• Smell: N/A
• Hearing: Needed for monitor equipment, i.e., alarms; listening to hospital personnel and patients.
• Touch: Needed to palpate arteries for arterial blood gases.

Activity/Lifting Requirements

Percentage of time during the normal workday the employee is required to:

• Sit: 10%
• Twist: 10%
• Stand: 40%
• Crawl: 0%
• Walk: 15%
• Kneel: 0%
• Lift: 5%
• Drive: 0%
• Squat: 5%
• Climb: 0%
• Bend: 10%
• Reach above shoulders: 5%

The weight required to be lifted each normal workday according to the continuum described below:

• Up to 10 lbs: Continuously
• Up to 20 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 35 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 75 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 100 lbs: Not Required
• Over 100 lbs: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements. (Example: the distance material is carried; how high material is lifted, etc.):

Equipment such as oxygen tanks, pulmonary function screening machine, pulse oximeters are lifted or carried. Tanks are lifted from floor level to waist and back down again. Pulmonary function screening machine is carried from department to patient's room; distance varies. Pulse oximeters are carried from department to patient's room, distance varies.

Maximum consecutive time (minutes) during the normal workday for each activity:

• Sit: 15
• Twist: 1
• Stand: 10
• Crawl: 0
• Walk: 5
• Kneel: 0
• Lift: 1
• Drive: 0
• Squat: 1
• Climb: 0
• Bend: 1
• Reach above shoulders: 1

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated): 

• Simple grasp up to 15 lbs. Normal weight:
• Pushing & pulling Normal weight: 50-200
• Fine Manipulation: Keyboarding and writing

Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: None

Environmental Factors & Special Hazards

• Environmental Factors (Time Spent):
• • Inside hours: 8
  • Outside hours : 0
• Temperature: Normal Range
• Lighting: Average
• Noise levels: Average
• Humidity: Dry
• Atmosphere: Poor Ventilation
• Special Hazards:
• Protective Clothing Required: For isolation: gloves, masks, eye wear.