The Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist demonstrates the knowledge and ability to successfully perform the following duties within the scope of Respiratory Care at the VA Ann Arbor Healthcare System and its Sleep Disorders Section of the Ambulatory Care.

Duties

These duties include but are not limited to: Understands etiology, anatomy, pathology, diagnosis, and treatment of common sleep- disordered breathing conditions. Demonstrates knowledge of testing procedures and common treatments employed in sleep-disordered patient populations, including, but not limited to overnight sleep testing, actigraphy, overnight pulse oximetry, Multiple Sleep Latency Testing (MSLT), and Positive Airway Pressure (PAP) therapy. Identifies common issues and limitations of testing and treatment related to sleep- disordered breathing patient populations, including, but not limited to insomnia, patients presenting with altered anatomy (i.e., tracheostomy patients), morbid obesity, neuromuscular issues, those with claustrophobia, and cognitive barriers to testing or treatment. Demonstrates knowledge and understanding of common medications prescribed for sleep-disordered patient populations, and how those medications relate to treatment in these patients. Identifies important information to be obtained prior to performing any diagnostic testing procedure and/or any therapeutic intervention, including patient identification, age, pulmonary and sleep histories. Demonstrates ability to perform patient assessment, including routine vital sign measurements, assessments of respiratory rate and pattern and evidence of dyspnea or hypoxia. Identifies indications, contraindications and hazards associated with frequently performed procedures and therapies used in the Sleep Center, including, but not limited to: Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) and Bi-level Positive Airway Pressure (BPAP) therapies, other advanced PAP modalities, non-PAP therapies for sleep disordered breathing, actigraphy, portable sleep studies, overnight pulse oximetry, oxygen therapy, and MSLT. Identifies critical information that must be communicated during appointments, including but not limited to providing directions at a level appropriate to patient understanding, ensuring patient understanding of therapy, potential hazards or complications of therapy and cleaning and maintenance of any equipment issued. Demonstrates ability to teach and coach patients with the fit, use and care of all equipment issued, ensuring maximal patient cooperation and compliance with therapy. Provides patient with contact information for any questions or concerns that arise with the issued machine, equipment, or use, ensuring patient can reach the issuing therapist when needed for assistance. Evaluates and troubleshoots all patient-issued equipment, including but not limited to: PAP machines, filters, tubing, masks, fittings, and other accessories. Understand and interpret PAP data downloads and follow management protocols, in addition to the technical procedure of downloading. Effectively identifies and takes appropriate action when faced with patient situations that require urgent or emergency management, including, but not limited to falls, fainting, acute change in mental status, acute change in breathing pattern or shortness of breath, hypoxia, chest pain, cardiac and/or respiratory arrest. Provides cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as needed. Communicates effectively and professionally with patients, families, coworkers, and other staff in order to provide exemplary care and service. Collaborates with patients, families, and other members of the healthcare team to facilitate appointments, equipment issuance, machine assistance, and equipment troubleshooting issues, as needed. Provides patient and caregiver education related to the use, cleaning, and maintenance of all recommended and issued patient equipment, ensuring adequate teach-back and understanding. Keeps abreast of current trends in respiratory and sleep-disordered breathing care, effectively applying that information in practice. Attends all required in-services and training sessions, assisting the Chief of Sleep Disorders with training, policy/procedure creation/revision and other performance improvement projects, as directed. Correctly identifies and demonstrates ability to don proper personal protective equipment (PPE) that should be utilized during procedures, testing or evaluation of patients and equipment. Ensures a safe patient environment at all times. This includes but is not limited to keeping patient care areas clean, organized, and free from trip hazards, completing disinfection of equipment in-between patients, encouraging use of walkers or other mobility aids when needed, and making recommendations for urgent care follow up, when indicated. Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 0730 -1600 Telework: Not eligible Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 93938-0 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized PCS Appraised Value Offer (AVO): Not Authorized

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. 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). 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: Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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). Grade Determinations: Lead Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-12 (a) Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must: i. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. RRTs at this grade level in this assignment have experience demonstrating advanced practice skills and clinical judgment across many areas of respiratory care both inpatient and outpatient. ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential. (b) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Ability to assign personnel and tasks to be accomplished in a manner that assures completion of the workload. Ability to oversee and direct clinical guidance in a manner that assures completion of the workload. Ability to communicate with individuals of varying backgrounds to solve problems and provide conflict resolution. Ability to recommend uncommon or atypical interventions. Ability to recommend ways to improve patient care and operations through independent research and evaluation of new equipment and therapies Preferred Experience: Experience in Respiratory Therapy Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is at full performance level Physical and Emotional Requirements: Considerable walking/standing may be required. Frequent lifting, positioning, pushing/pulling may be required when assisting with the transfer of patients or when moving equipment or supplies. Frequent, prolonged extensive or considerable sitting is often required. Manual dexterity and mobility is required. Frequent reaching, stooping, bending, kneeling, or crouching may be necessary. Moderate physical effort (ability to lift/carry up to 50 pounds) may be occasionally required. Intermittent exertion is possible. Subject to interruptions and stress from multiple calls, patient needs and/or inquiries from others, whether in-person, on the telephone or via computer. Sound judgement and ability to function under stress is required. Inappropriate actions/judgment, especially those during emergency or crisis situations, may result in injury or death. Exposure to meeting with employees and external contacts who may be angry and/or upset. Ability to print materials, such as reports and Standard Operating Procedures Ability to view information on computer screens and in Electronic Patient Records. Ability to accurately perceive depth to move around workspace safely. Ability to work alone and perform a variety of duties changing one task to another without loss of efficiency or composure, and consistently meet department work schedule demands, including documentation and participation in workgroup and committees, etc.

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 Ann Arbor VA Medical Center 2215 Fuller Road Ann Arbor, MI 48105 US
• Name: Justin Pongtornwatchakorn
• Phone: 2162091252
• Email: [email protected]