The specialist implements respiratory regimens, assists with participant support, and contributes expertise to a multi-disciplinary team to develop comprehensive treatment strategies and positive outcomes. Responsibilities also include assessing risk factors, offering lifestyle change support, and participating in educational efforts and initial participant orientations.
Requirements summary
Candidates must have twenty-four months of recent and relevant experience, current CPR and ACLS certification, and current registration or certification in the state of practice. A specialization or certification in a cardiopulmonary clinical area is required, along with the physical ability to lift up to 50 pounds.
The pulmonary health and rehabilitation program will staff (full time, part time, or consultant basis) respiratory care practitioners who will be responsible for implementing the respiratory regimen and assisting with pulmonary participant support.
Contributes expertise as a member of a multi-disciplinary team to offer comprehensive treatment strategies to provide positive outcomes for individual participants and for the pulmonary health and rehabilitation program
Demonstrates ability to communicate effectively with rehab team members about individual patient findings or concerns and about program improvement issues
Demonstrates a willingness to strive toward proficiency in the clinical competencies
Demonstrates the interpersonal and observational skills needed to effectively identify appropriate psycho social adaptation to illness and/or the presence of psychopathology (e.g., depression, anger, excessive anxiety, etc.)
Assesses patients' risk factors that are modifiable and demonstrates ability to offer support and strategies to aid patient in successful therapeutic lifestyle changes (TLC)
Understands and utilizes contemporary theories of health behavior change in helping participants identify learning and lifestyle modification goals
Participates in the program's educational efforts, classes, and/or individual sessions
Participates in the initial assessment and orientation of new participants
Assists in the development of individualized treatment plans with other staff members
Effectively applies knowledge of exercise science to a population with pulmonary disease and other potential co-morbidities
Develops and adjusts individual exercise prescription in accordance with GXT, daily patient response in rehab, and physician recommendations on a regular basis
Supervises exercise session, monitoring participants for inappropriate responses to exercise
Responsible for oximetry, heart rate, and blood pressure measurement
Assesses participants pre, during, and post exercise, making appropriate referrals, and/or recommendations to the participant, other staff, and Medical Director
Responsible for observation of telemetry responses, when indicated
Documents initial and daily assessment data in participant records
Immediately reports any new, changing, and/or significant participant conditions (oxygen desaturation, dysrhythmias, abnormal blood pressure responses, change in participants' status, etc.) to the physician supervising the program
Initiates ACLS measures and/or emergency care according to hospital policy
Participates in the collection, analysis, and reporting of identified individual patient outcomes and program outcomes
Keeps current in the field of pulmonary rehabilitation through journals, in-services, and conferences
Participates in emergency drills and mock codes on a routine basis
Attends all scheduled staff meetings
Qualifications
Desire to work within a comprehensive health care team
Commitment to a healthy lifestyle as a model to participants and staff
Twenty-four (24) months recent and relevant experience
Current CPR and ACLS certification
Current registration or certification in state of practice
Specialization or certification in cardiopulmonary clinical area
