General Summary

A Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT), under medical direction, provides treatment, management, diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the Pulmonary System. The RRT assesses patient who require respiratory care by interview, physical examination of the chest and review of the patient’s chart and chest x-rays. The RRT provides respiratory care by administration of medicated aerosol treatments, IPPB, ultrasonic nebulization, chest physiotherapy, incentive spirometry, humidification, and oxygen therapy. This health care professional also: maintains mechanical ventilators and makes appropriate ventilator setting changes after consultation with the physician; evaluates patients for weaning from mechanical ventilation; participates in CPR; obtains and analyzes arterial blood gas samples; participates in multidisciplinary care planning; and recommends various modes of therapy to physicians.

Principal Responsibilities and Tasks

The following statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work being performed by people assigned to this classification. These are not to be construed as an exhaustive list of all job duties performed by personnel so classified.

1. Patient Assessment: collect health data through interviews, a physical exam of the chest, evaluation of breath sounds, and a review of the patient’s medical record.
2. Develops appropriate treatment regimens based on patient care needs identified during the assessment within the framework of accepted criteria and discusses the care plan with the ordering physician.
3. Demonstrates knowledge and skill in the administration of respiratory therapy modalities to include: oxygen therapy, respiratory medications, aerosol therapy, IPPB, ultrasonic nebulization, incentive spirometry, Chest physiotherapy, mechanical ventilation, CPAP, and BiPAP.
4. Educate patients and families about respiratory modalities, and medications.
5. Active involvement with Quality Improvement initiatives, follows all appropriate policies, procedures, and protocols, follows Risk Management, Infection Control, Fire and Safety, and Corporate Compliance policies and procedures.
6. Maintain, clean, stock, and setup of respiratory therapy equipment.
7. Maintain mechanical ventilators by cleaning, set-up of the patient circuit, and performing the pre-use ventilator procedure.
8. Demonstrate knowledge and skill in the selection of appropriate ventilator settings and evaluate patients for weaning.
9. Demonstrate proper technique for arterial punctures, site preparation, patient identification, and acceptable samples.
10. Be proficient in the use of pH/Blood Gas analyzers including maintenance, quality control, rule violations, and documentation.
11. Provide supervision as needed to other members of the Respiratory Therapy department.
12. Maintain certification in CardioPulmonary Resuscitation.
13. Identify problem areas pertaining to respiratory therapy and take appropriate actions or make recommendations to correct the problem.
14. Demonstrates support and compliance with University of Maryland Medical Center Midtown Campus’s mission, vision, values philosophy, goals, objectives, and policies.
15. Performs additional functions to assist the Assistant Director, Respiratory Therapy, and other activities as assigned.

The University of Maryland Medical System is a 14-hospital system with academic, community and specialty medical services reaching every part of Maryland and beyond. UMMS is a national and regional referral center for trauma, cancer care, Neurocare, cardiac care, women’s and children’s health and physical rehabilitation. UMMS is the fourth largest private employer in the Baltimore metropolitan area and one of the top 20 employers in the state of Maryland. No organization will give you the clinical variety, the support, or the opportunities for professional growth that you’ll enjoy as a member of our team. 

Education and Experience

1. Graduation from a Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) approved school of Respiratory Therapy.
2. Two years of recent (within the past 12 months) hospital experience is required.
3. Credentialed by the National Board of Respiratory Care as a Certified or Registered Therapist.
4. Licensed by the State of Maryland Board for Physician Quality Assurance
5. American Heart Association BLS (Basic Life Support) and ACLS (Advanced Cardiovascular Life Support) certified.

Knowledge, Skills and Abilities

1. Responsible for maintaining competencies required for the patient care setting; focus on advancing own professional development
2. Demonstrates highly effective interpersonal, verbal and written communication skills.
3. Demonstrates leadership qualities through effectiveness as Respiratory Therapist
4. Demonstrates effectiveness as a multidisciplinary team member.
5. Ability to learn and use computer systems in order to manage patient information.
6. Ability to participate in team-building efforts on units; supports and models teamwork
7. Ability to demonstrate knowledge and skills necessary to provide care appropriate to the patient population(s) served. Ability to demonstrate knowledge of the principles of growth and development over the life span and ability to assess data reflective of the patient's requirements relative to his or her population-specific and age specific needs.

Required Physical and Environmental Demands

1. Walking and standing for extended periods of time.
2. Lifting and transporting patients and other job related equipment.

All your information will be kept confidential according to EEO guidelines.