Respiratory Therapy Director

Ardent Health is a leading provider of healthcare in communities across the country. With a focus on consumer-friendly processes and investments in innovative services and technologies, Ardent is passionate about making healthcare better and easier to access. We are driven by our purpose of caring for people: our patients, our communities and one another.

Located in Brentwood, Tennessee, Ardent has earned a reputation as one of the industry's strongest and most innovative healthcare systems. Our facilities and clinics are consistently recognized among healthcare's best employers. We recognize each hospital and clinic is as unique as the community it serves. We strive to maintain strong community ties through advisory boards, contributions, charitable care, education and outreach.

Ardent includes:

• 30 hospitals
• 280 sites of care
• 4,281 beds
• 24,000 team members
• 8,200 nurses
• 1,800 aligned providers
• 5.8M annual provider encounters
• 421 medical residents

Ardent makes considerable investments in people, technology, facilities, and communities, producing high quality care and extraordinary results. From newly constructed facilities and expanded services, to lifesaving technology and outstanding opportunities for employees, Ardent is committed to providing its hospitals and clinics the tools needed to succeed.

We believe it is this mix of corporate support and local autonomy that equips our teams for success.

UT Health East Texas (UT Health)

Representing the very best in healthcare, UT Health East Texas is comprised of 10 hospitals and more than 90 clinics across East Texas. With nearly 7,500 employees and over 1,000 licensed inpatient beds, UT Health East Texas provides healthcare services to thousands of patients annually through our hospitals, clinics, Level 1 trauma facility, air emergency fleet and EMS in a metropolitan service area of a quarter million people.

With the support of Ardent Health Services and The University of Texas System, UT Health East Texas is uniquely positioned to provide patients with access to cutting-edge research and clinical therapies while training and educating the next generation of physicians and other health professionals. At UT Health East Texas, our mission is to care for people - our patients, our communities and each other. We do so while educating and developing the caregivers of the future.

UT Health Tyler:

UT Health Tyler is the flagship hospital of the system serving hundreds of thousands annually. Specializing in advanced acute care medicine, our midtown location boasts a Level 1 trauma center and comprehensive stroke center, the region's only EMCO program and a Level III NICU. Our medical staff includes more than 500 physicians and a full complement of subspecialty groups.

POSITION SUMMARY:

Under the guidance and supervision of facility leadership and according to hospital and department policies and procedures, the Respiratory Therapy Director is responsible for all activities within selected areas of clinical management. These areas include Clinical Education, Quality and Performance Improvement, Patient Driven Protocols, Diagnostic Quality Control, Equipment Control, Infection Control, personnel management, and staff development. The Director has accountability twenty-four hours a day for staffing and daily operations and is subject to callback.

• Coordinate the Pulmonary Standards of Care program including: implementation of an "assess and treat" program, patient assessment/re-assessment, patient/family education, age-specific appropriateness of care, outcomes of care and infection control.
• Coordinate the development, implementation and subsequent revision of department policies and procedures which comply with hospital guidelines and meet the standards of applicable government, JCAHO, OSHA, CAP and other professional organizations.
• Coordinate the collection and analysis of data and develop actions related to department PI programs.
• Coordinate and manage the day-to-day activities of the staff including interviewing, performance evaluations, and assessment of training and development needs, scheduling, and corrective action and monitoring of clinical skills.
• Act as a liaison and/or consultant between pulmonary staff, nurses, physicians and other departments as part of an interdisciplinary approach to patient are planning.
• Coordinates inservice education on topics related to respiratory care, policies and procedures or equipment for pulmonary staff as well as other departments or physicians.
• Participates in continuing education for self-development in clinical and management areas.
• Acts as a role model for employees by supporting administration, demonstrates professional and personal ethics, displays professional appearance, communicates effectively, active membership in state and national respiratory organizations, participates in hospital and department sponsored events.
• Coordinates and monitors the daily process of assessing and meeting the needs and expectations of the department customers.
• Functions independently requiring minimal supervision from the executive leadership.

Education & Experience

• Minimum of Associates Degree in Respiratory Therapy, Bachelor's degree preferred
• Current Texas State Licensure Respiratory Care Practitioner
• Current Registered Respiratory Therapist
• Current BLS, ACLS, NRP, PALS certification
• Minimum of five years in Respiratory Therapy.
• Minimum of two years management experience.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities

• Knowledge and experience in the administration of all generally accepted modalities of Respiratory Therapy procedures including intensive and non-intensive care treatments, emergency care, patient assessment, and diagnostic testing.

• Management and interpersonal skills necessary to work professionally and effectively with the entire various "customer" of the Respiratory Therapy Department.

• Knowledge and understanding of the function and proper application of a wide variety of equipment used in the care and treatment of respiratory related diseases and conditions.

• Knowledge in the use and application of computers and various technical and management software programs.

• Ability to gather, analyze and utilize pertinent data for department production, productivity, performance improvement, quality control, and staff development.

  Ability to accurately assess staff performances and to conduct meaningful employee evaluations that result in positive behavior changes.

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