The Pulmonary Clinic Respiratory Therapist reports directly to the Respiratory Care Supervisor and will assist the Pulmonary Medicine providers in determining which veterans need supplemental home oxygen. The responsibilities will include serving as a liaison between clinicians, veterans in need of home oxygen therapy, and the outside provider to facilitate the efficient, effective delivery of a variety of types of home oxygen systems to those veterans who require such therapy.

Duties

Major duties for the Pulmonary Clinic Respiratory Therapist include, but are not limited to: Assess compliance with medications and perform relevant functional status evaluations, including measurement of oxygen saturation. Sets up home sleep test. Maintains a computerized database on all veterans with respiratory disorders who require home oxygen, including relevant demographic data, diagnosis, pertinent historical data, current prescription, proper equipment, and annual veteran consultations. Notifies provider(s) of veterans that do not meet VHA medical criteria for receiving home oxygen and collaborate with local contracted vendor clinician(s) as the VA clinical contract for the Home Oxygen/Respiratory Care Program and HST regarding the veteran's medical concerns with follow through to veterans and provider(s). Participates in departmental reviews of home oxygen veterans, follow written Quality Control (QC) procedures, develop Quality Assurance (QA) monitors, collect QA data, and report QA data to the Home Oxygen Committee and Sharepoint site. Ensures veterans are scheduled for follow-up appointments as stated in the VHA Directives, VISN and local policies, and will be accountable for all home oxygen prescriptions and renewal of such in a timely manner. Monitors and evaluates the patient's clinical condition with pulse oximetry, electrocardiogram, exhaled gas analysis, and other related diagnostic devices. Performs arterial and venous sampling for blood analysis. Reviews and interpret pulmonary function studies (spirometry) and pulse oximetry. Reviews and interprets arterial blood gases, electrolytes, complete blood cell count, and related laboratory tests. Skill in the development of and implementation of appropriate standards of care for Respiratory Care. Formulates evaluation of equipment needs, preventive maintenance and organization of expendable and non-expendable equipment and supplies related to the program. Recommends care plan modifications by recognizing additional needs that exist (e.g., bathroom safety, wheelchairs, electric beds, portable supplemental oxygen delivery systems). Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 8:00am to 4:30pm. Telework: Not suitable for telework. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required

Requirements

Qualifications

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. 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). Education: Successful completion of a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor is required. (If your school program was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the websites, or has changed names, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating). NOTE: A transcript from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions must be submitted with your application. Licensure: A full, current and unrestricted license from an state to practice as a Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) is required. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your license(s) with your application. Credential: A valid, current, unrestricted credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) as a Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) is required. You must submit a copy of your credential(s) with your application. Grade Determinations: Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary), GS-12 Experience: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the following clinical competencies: Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience requirements listed above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Knowledge of complex pulmonary function testing to include but not limited to cardiopulmonary stress testing, exercise testing, metabolic testing, bronchoprovocation testing and shunt testing. Ability to establish a quality control program related to pulmonary function lab. Skill in analyzing physiologic specimen and information from basic diagnostic procedures. Skill in assessing for signs and symptoms of adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures. Skill in determining appropriate intervention for adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures. Ability to provide training in advanced pulmonary function procedures. Ability to provide clinical consultation in advanced pulmonary function procedures. Preferred Experience: Experience in home oxygen and PFT. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.

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: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/.

Contacts

• Address West Palm Beach VA Medical Center 7305 North Military Trail West Palm Beach, FL 33410 US
• Name: Jayme Cooper
• Phone: 717-222-1893
• Email: [email protected]