Respiratory Therapist, RRT-Casual

UPMC Western Maryland is looking for a skilled Respiratory Therapist to join their team of life-changers! As a Respiratory Therapist, you’ll provide respiratory therapy services and life support to patients. The Respiratory Therapist may operate within all patient populations. Whether you’re a recent graduate or an experienced therapist, we offer a career ladder to continue to grow! We will consider all levels of therapists for this role, but previous experience is preferred.

*Job title and pay rate will be based on certification and experience. Pay rates shown are for Respiratory Therapist, RRT.

          ·            This is a Casual, As-Needed, position.

Responsibilities:

• Evaluate the appropriateness of medical orders. Interprets clinical data to optimize patient clinical objectives.
• Sets up and operates devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, and aerosol generators. Operates equipment to ensure specified parameters of treatment, such as volume, gas concentration, humidity, and temperature, and to administer medicinal gases and aerosol drugs to patients. Observe equipment function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results for therapy. Inspects and tests respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment functions safely and efficiently.
• Assists in transporting mechanically ventilated patients.
• Responds to all code situations.
• Maintains patient's chart that contains pertinent identification and therapy information. 
• Reads prescription, measures arterial blood gases, and reviews patient information to assess patient condition and determine requirements for treatment, such as type and duration of therapy, and medication dosages. Determines most suitable method of administering inhalants, precautions to be observed, and modifications that may be needed that will be compatible with physician's orders.
• Monitors patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes. Performs bronchopulmonary drainage and assists patient in performing breathing exercises. Performs pulmonary function tests to be used by physician in diagnosis of case. Consult with physician in the event of adverse reactions.