TEAM LEADER RESPIRATORY CARE

The Team Leader will be responsible for leading a team of respiratory therapists, ensuring high standards of patient care, and fostering a collaborative and efficient work environment. This role combines clinical expertise with leadership responsibilities, including patient care, staff development, quality assurance, and operational management. 

Essential Duties

• Team Leadership: Provide leadership and direction to the respiratory care team, including assigning tasks, setting priorities, and ensuring adherence to hospital protocols and standards.
• Operational Management: Oversee daily operations of the Respiratory Care department, including scheduling, workflow management, and resource allocation to ensure efficient and effective delivery of care. 
• Patient Assessment: Perform detailed assessments of patients' respiratory status, including evaluating lung sounds, breathing patterns, and oxygenation levels.
• Treatment Administration: Administer respiratory therapies such as oxygen, aerosolized treatments, and mechanical ventilation, according to established protocols and patient needs. Adjust ventilator settings and manage endotracheal tubes or tracheostomy tubes as needed for patients requiring care.
• Diagnostic Testing: Conduct and interpret diagnostic tests such as arterial blood gases (ABGs), pulmonary function tests (PFTs), as ordered by the provider to assist in the diagnosis and treatment planning.
• Emergency Care: Provide prompt and effective response to respiratory emergencies, including advanced airway management and emergency resuscitation. Assist with intubation and extubation procedures as needed.
• Patient Education: Educate patients and families about respiratory care techniques, disease management, and care plans.
• Collaboration: Collaborate closely with physicians, nurses, and other healthcare providers to ensure comprehensive and coordinated patient care.
• Documentation: Prepare and maintain documentation related to patient care, departmental activities, and staff performance.
• Equipment Maintenance: Ensure the proper functioning and maintenance of respiratory care equipment and supplies.
• Quality Assurance and Compliance: Ensure compliance with hospital protocols, safety standards, and regulatory requirements. Participate in quality improvement initiatives and continuing education to enhance respiratory care practices
• Problem Solving: Address and resolve any issues or concerns related to patient care, staff performance, or departmental operations in a timely and effective manner.
• Flexibility: Demonstrates flexibility with assignments within professional scope/duties/licensure

Non-essential Duties

• Participate in hospital committees and contribute to organizational initiatives as needed.
• Engage in continuing education and professional development to stay current with advancements in respiratory care and leadership practices

Preferred Experience

• Experience in Respiratory Therapy preferred
• Proven experience in managing complex patient cases and leading a team of healthcare professionals.
• Strong leadership, organizational, and communication skills. 
• Ability to effectively manage and motivate a team, handle complex situations, and work collaboratively within a multidisciplinary environment.

Required Licensure/Education

• A graduate of an AMA- approved Respiratory Therapist program
• Certification as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC).
• Current Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP) license in the state of Illinois.
• Current State of Illinois RRT license. 
• Basic Life Support (BLS) certification required.
• NRP, ACLS, and PALS are required within 6 months of hire

Employee Health Requirements

Exposure/Sensory Requirements:

Exposure to:

• Chemicals: Refer to MSDS sheets
• Video Display Terminals: Average
• Blood and Body Fluids: Occasional contact with intravenous devices, and high potential for contact with contaminated body fluids (blood, stool, vomitus). Use of needleless IV system, universal precautions and protective equipment minimize risk.
• TB or Airborne Pathogens: None other than normal hospital environment exposure.

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

• Speech: Required to communicate with patient/families/staff/MDs. Ability to ask for help.
• Vision: Required to observe patients and their physical assessment, ability to read reports, ability to read machines.
• Smell: Helpful to note the presence of incontinence, vomitus, blood; electrical/fire safety.
• Hearing: Necessary to hear alarms, calls for help and to hear patient verbalizations; ability to listen for lung, bowel, and heart sounds.
• Touch: Necessary to assess patients, need to distinguish between hot and cold.

Activity/Lifting Requirements:

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

• Sit: 10%
• Twist: 4%
• Stand: 40%
• Crawl: 0%
• Walk: 25%
• Kneel: 1%
• Lift: 10%
• Drive: 0%
• Squat: 1%
• Climb: 1%
• Bend: 30%
• Reach above shoulders: 3%

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

• Up to 10 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 20 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 35 lbs: Frequently
• Up to 60 lbs: Occasionally
• Up to 75 lbs: Not Required
• Up to 100 lbs: Not Required
• Over 100 lbs: Not Required

Describe and explain the lifting and carrying requirements:

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

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

• Sit: 30
• Twist: 15
• Stand: 60
• Crawl: 0
• Walk: 10
• Kneel: 0
• Lift: 5
• Drive: 0
• Squat: 2
• Climb: 1
• Bend: 15
• Reach above shoulders: 2

Repetitive use of hands (Frequency indicated): 

• Simple grasp up to 10 lbs. 
• Normal weight: 5#
• Pushing & pulling - 50-200 lbs: Occasionally
• Fine Manipulation: Typing in computer, omnicell, using pens to chart, drawing up meds in syringe and administration, starting IVs.

Leg Strength - Up to 50 lbs: Occasionally 

• Repetitive use of foot or feet in operating machine control: utilized in positioning beds during transport; x-ray, surgery or in an emergency situation from floor to floor, locking beds or cardiac chairs.

Environmental Factors & Special Hazards:

• Environmental Factors (Time Spent):
• Inside hours: 6-40
• Outside hours: 0
• Temperature: Normal Range
• Lighting: Average
• Noise levels: Average
• Humidity: Normal Range
• Atmosphere: Average
• Special Hazards: Radiation, Chemical, Explosive - Chemical-drugs; Explosive-oxygen; Radiation-cesium implants and radioactive iodine therapy.
• Protective Clothing Required: As required for chemotherapy or in cases of isolation, i.e. gloves, gowns, masks, goggles.