Respiratory Therapist - Dayshift - Louis A Weiss Memorial Medical Center, LLC

Weiss Memorial Hospital has been serving Chicago’s North Side and surrounding communities providing excellent health care services for over 60 years. We are a 236-bed, Joint Commission-accredited facility providing a full range of health care services to meet the needs of our diverse community. We have grown to better serve our community to include more than 450 doctors representing 42 medical specialties and more than 800 employees, all committed to providing you with personalized care. We are looking for exceptional people who share our mission and values to join our team!

PRIMARY JOB SUMMARY:

Provides supervision of Respiratory Care personnel, which includes responsibility for planning, organizing, directing, and controlling the activities of personnel engaged in providing therapeutic and diagnostic Respiratory Care.  Functions as department liaison with other hospital services units and physicians.  Applies critical respiratory care theory and procedures in treatment and diagnosis of patients in both Adult Intensive Care.  Practitioners will deliver patient care in an age appropriate manner while recognizing individual patient needs.  Provides education to peers, students and patients.

PRIMARY JOB QUALIFICATIONS:

• Graduate of an AMA approved program in Respiratory Therapy
• Board registered as a Respiratory Therapist by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
• Licensed by the State of Illinois as a Respiratory Care Practitioner
• Certified in BLS - required 
• ACLS and NALS preferred
• "5" years experience in the delivery of critical respiratory therapy
• Knowledge of principles of circulation, anatomy, physiology, pulmonary disease, and the indication of oxygen therapy, tracheobronchial hygiene, and mechanical ventilation

PRIMARY JOB DUTIES (* denotes “essential function”)

1. Demonstrates the WMH Customer Service Values, which are key in providing quality service to patients and customers. *
2. Acts as a resource to General Care Practitioners in implementation and utilization of intensive and general technical skills.
3. Assists in the formulation of policy for the department; develops and communicates procedures necessary to implement approved policy and provides the overall direction and supervision necessary to ensure efficient and effective service based on the patients condition and age.
4. In consultation with the Manger of Respiratory Care develops short & long term goals for the Respiratory department.
5. Assists with some financial and quality assurance accountability for the Respiratory department.
6. Upholds performance criteria for department personnel; oversees the performance evaluations of staff personnel, provides encouragement, coaching and counseling to employees, attempts to resolve employee conflict, assists with new hires, evaluates and disciplines all subordinate personnel.
7. Ensures strict adherence by department staff to all therapeutic policies and procedures, regularly evaluates Respiratory Care performance to ensure quality and appropriateness of therapy.
8. Assigns work assignments for staff and ensures that all assigned procedures, therapy, documentation, and charting are completed each shift.
9. Assures appropriate staffing for current shift and following shifts.
10. Investigates and documents occurrences/incidents and reports them to manager.
11. Conducts and documents staff meetings on appropriate shifts. 
12. Assists staff with difficult or complex problems, i.e., management of difficult patients, improvising techniques or equipment, interpretation and resolution of incomplete and/or conflicting orders for therapy/treatment.
13. Remains abreast of developments in the Respiratory Care field by attending continuing education, reading periodicals and other educational activities.
14. Monitors equipment operation and availability including rental and coordinates preventive maintenance for all departmental equipment daily.
15. Develops and assists in maintaining continuing quality assurance programs for Respiratory Care Services.

Required Skills & Abilities

1. A thorough understanding of Respiratory Care theory, principles, procedures and equipment.
2. Problem solving ability and the analytical skills necessary to evaluate and report program and personnel effectiveness, budget variances and to audit patient care management.
3. The interpersonal skills necessary to establish and maintain effective working relationships with patients, employees, and physicians.
4. The ability to effectively communicate organizational policies and other information to staff.

Weiss Memorial Hospital provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state or local laws.