The Registered Respiratory Therapist is a respiratory care practitioner who is employed under medical direction in the treatment, control, diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities, of the cardio/pulmonary system. RRT function as members of the medical team in treating and assessing the needs of individuals who may be seriously ill and provide around the clock care to individuals who otherwise would not be able to survive life-threatening conditions.

Duties

The following is a summary of the major essential functions of this job. The incumbent may perform other related duties as assigned, both major and minor not mentioned below; periodically specific functions may change. - Manages, directs, or assists in managing or directing, one or more programs to deliver health care services to Veterans. - Assumes a high level of supervision of a large, complex section and, as necessary, provides supervision to subordinate supervisors - Directly contributes to the administrative management of the VAMC Albany and is the principle advisor for planning, organizing, developing, managing, and evaluating the programs under their supervision - Applies specialized principles and practices of health care management in leading programs. - Decisions are made exercising wide latitude and independent judgment. - Develops and implements the organizational vision that integrates program goals, strategic priorities, ICARE values, and other factors. - Develops statements of goals, policies, priorities and plans for the full range of department related concerns, including guidelines and policies for non-routine or complex assignments - Resolves technical work problems, including those not covered by precedents or established policies - Develops and reports to higher level leadership changes in budget requirements based on anticipated workload and productivity capability of the section. - Serves as a consultant and works in collaboration with case managers, discharge coordinators, physicians, nurse practitioners, physician assistants and ancillary staff regarding the respiratory care provided - Develops policies, procedures and protocols, performance and quality standards, position descriptions and functional statements - Establishes relationships with professional and/or other health-related groups within the community. - Represents the department at interdisciplinary meetings and facility level committees and to VISN level leadership - Prepares special reports and responses for the medical center leadership, VISN or central office, which may be highly sensitive, confidential, and of a complex nature - Provides oversight in developing procedures and methodologies for monitoring quality assurance and continuous improvement programs - Analyzes a wide range or processes with long-term goals using basic and advanced tools to accomplish analysis - Develops audits and selects methods for measuring quality of services - Analyzes quality and performance improvement data to assess compliance with multiple specific and technical guidelines and functions and makes recommendations for changes to ensure desired outcomes - Uses sound judgment in decision-making that focuses on meeting and improving quality customer service and the delivery of patient focused outcome-orientated health care - Implements, evaluates, and monitors a risk management program - Performs administrative and personnel management functions relative to the staff supervised and has authority to prepare and follow up on actions for most supervisory personnel functions. - Establishes a master staffing plan, including numbers and skills for staff based on patient needs, staffing guidelines, staff qualifications, infection control concerns, work area geography, and human resources supply and demand. - Establishes guidelines and performance expectations for staff; observes workers performance; demonstrates and conducts work performance critiques. - Develops performance improvement plans, recommending personnel actions as necessary; proposes and effects disciplinary measures as appropriate to the authority delegated in this area. - Recommends approval, modification, or rejection of formal requests from subordinates for promotion, reassignment, status changes and awards - Plans and implements an effective educational program for in-services, orientation, continuing education and other personnel training including respiratory therapists, medical students, residents, house staff, nursing staff, patients/families/caregivers and other Medical Center personnel - Responsible for ensuring all legal, regulatory, quality and safety standards for his/her areas are met, including Joint Commission, AWE and OIG requirements, Fire Safety, Infection Control, Blood Borne Pathogens, Chemical Hazards, CPR, education documentation, patient confidentiality, employee orientation, and employee competency. - Develops a safety training program and encourages a culture of safety. - Maintains a leadership role in the evaluation and recommendation of new services and equipment. - Assumes other duties and responsibilities as needed or assigned. Work Schedule: Varies Telework: Ad-hoc Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 21T81O Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship. Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor. Licensure. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT. Credential. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT. Physical Standards. See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. English Language Proficiency. RTs/RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all hybrid title 38 qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education, credential or certification requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: (1) Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation. (2) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. (3) Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification or registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. (4) Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. (5) Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. (6) If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation or employment with the VA, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation and/or VA. Grade Determinations: In addition to the basic requirements for employment in paragraph above, all individuals referred and assigned to this occupation must meet all the qualification requirements and KSAs below: Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-14 Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must: i. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess certification in one or more functional specialties such as critical care, pulmonary, education and sleep medicine. ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential. Education. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess a Bachelor of Science degree from a nationally accredited college or university in respiratory care; cardiopulmonary science; or a health-related field. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience or education above, the candidate must demonstrate the following KSAs: Skill in implementing patient care and operations change by recognizing opportunities for improvement and analyzing data. Skill in the development and implementation of appropriate standards of care for respiratory care. Ability establish a completely integrated program that emulates "best practice" and follows national policies. Ability to supervise employees. Ability to forecast resource needs to manage fiscal matters. Preferred Experience: BLS and ACLS is highly desirable. References: VA Handbook 5005, Part II, Appendix G11. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-14. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019.

Education

IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education.

Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: http://www.ed.gov/about/offices/list/ous/international/usnei/us/edlite-visitus-forrecog.html.

Contacts

• Address Samuel S Stratton VA Medical Center - Albany 113 Holland Ave Albany, NY 12208 US
• Name: Sarah Cassidy
• Email: [email protected]