Main Function:

A Per Diem Respiratory Therapist (RT), under medical direction of an LCP, provides treatment, management, diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the Pulmonary System. The Per Diem RT assesses patients who require respiratory care by interview, physical examination of the chest and review of the patient's chart and chest x-rays. The Per Diem RT provides respiratory care by administration of medicated aerosol treatments, IPPB, ultrasonic nebulization, chest physiotherapy, incentive spirometry, humidification, and oxygen therapy. This health care professional also: maintains mechanical ventilators and makes appropriate ventilator setting changes after consultation with the physician; evaluates patients for weaning from mechanical ventilation; participates in CPR; obtains and analyzes arterial blood gas samples; participates in multidisciplinary care planning; and recommends various modes of therapy to physicians.

Duties and Responsibilities:

1. Patient Assessment: collect health data through interviews, a physical exam of the chest, evaluation of breath sounds, and a review of the patient's medical record.
2. Develops appropriate treatment regimens based on patient care needs identified during the assessment within the framework of accepted criteria and discusses the care plan with the ordering physician.
3. Demonstrates knowledge and skill in the administration of respiratory therapy modalities to include: oxygen therapy, respiratory medications, aerosol therapy, IPPB, ultrasonic nebulization, incentive spirometry, Chest physiotherapy, mechanical ventilation, CPAP, and BiPAP.
4. Educate patients and families about respiratory modalities, and medications.
5. Active involvement with Quality Improvement initiatives, follows all appropriate policies, procedures, and protocols, follows Risk Management, Infection Control, Fire and Safety, and Corporate Compliance policies and procedures.
6. Maintain, clean, stock, and setup of respiratory therapy equipment.
7. Maintain mechanical ventilators by cleaning, set-up of the patient circuit, and performing the pre-use ventilator procedure.
8. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in the selection of appropriate ventilator settings and evaluate patients for weaning.
9. Demonstrate proper technique for arterial punctures, site preparation, patient identification, and acceptable samples.
10. Be proficient in the use of pH/Blood Gas analyzers including maintenance, quality control, rule violations, and documentation.
11. Provide supervision as needed to other members of the Respiratory Therapy department.
12. Maintain certification in CardioPulmonary Resuscitation.
13. Identify problem areas pertaining to respiratory therapy and take appropriate actions or make recommendations to correct the problem.
14. Demonstrates support and compliance with University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus's mission, vision, values philosophy, goals, objectives, and policies.
15. Performs additional functions to assist the Assistant Director, Respiratory Therapy, and other activities as assigned.