Licensed Respiratory Therapist

Quality Center for Rehabilitation and Healing; Lakewood (TN); On-site; USD 70,000 - 100,000; Full time

Job summary

Quality Center for Rehabilitation and Healing seeks a highly motivated Respiratory Therapist to join our skilled nursing facility team. The RT will assess, diagnose, and treat patients with cardio-pulmonary and respiratory conditions, working within an interdisciplinary care model to support long-term patient health and recovery.

The role emphasizes documentation accuracy, ongoing professional development, and collaboration with nursing leadership to ensure OBRA compliance and high-quality care.

Qualifications

• Licensed respiratory therapist in the state of practice.
• Experience in a rehab or SNF setting preferred.
• Excellent communication and teamwork skills.

Responsibilities

• Develop and implement patient treatment plans for long-term respiratory care.
• Perform accurate patient evaluations and document progress.
• Collaborate with nursing and other disciplines to meet OBRA and care goals.
• Maintain current licensure and participate in staff development.
• Ensure accurate documentation and billing-related data entry.
• Demonstrate safe working practices and proper use of equipment.

Skills

Excellent communication

Leadership

Respiratory knowledge

Interdisciplinary collaboration

Patient assessment

Education

Graduation from an accredited Respiratory Therapy program

Tools

Respiratory therapy equipment

Job description

Schedule

• 5 days a week 37.5 - 40 hours per week

Respiratory Therapist (RT)

We are searching for a highly motivated, flexible, organized, skilled respiratory therapist who has experience in a rehab center and possesses great communication skills to put the “therapy” into respiratory therapy. If you are looking for a challenging and rewarding opportunity, this opportunity can be for you. The position is within a Skilled Nursing facility. As a long-term respiratory therapist, your role would involve providing specialized care and treatment to patients with cardio-pulmonary, respiratory conditions neurological disorders and physical conditions that manifest into respiratory disorders over an extended period. Your primary responsibility would be to assess, diagnose, develop treatment plans, and provide treatment to our long-term population.

Job Description

ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTIONS:

1. 1. Develops and maintains systems which build and enhance the facility’s reputation for being the unparalleled provider of Respiratory Therapy and demonstrates the facility’s approach to interdisciplinary care.
   • Compliance with facility’s policies, procedures, clinical standards, and protocols.
   • Compliance with documentation guidelines and regulatory requirements.
   • Implementing new patient programs in accordance with facility’s policies.
   • In-services are conducted as required.
   • Communicating regularly with the administrator, determining the need for visits andassistance, and scheduling time with support for maximum effectiveness.
   • Timely evaluation and treatment of patients in the most efficient and effective mannerpossible.
   • Participation with nursing to meet OBRA requirements.
   • Quality of data entry and clinical documentation.
   • Managing use of computerized systems to optimize data quality and maximize therapistefficiency.
2. 2. Monitors the financial performance of the Respiratory Therapy department and effectively seeks methods to improve this performance while ensuring that the standards are consistently observed.
   • Achieving and maintaining revenue, productivity and gross profit margin goals.
   • Managing key operations and financial levers to achieve budget projections, includingdevelopment and implementation of action plans as necessary.
   • Long term caseload development
3. 3. Contributes to professional development of self and facility’s staff.
   • Maintaining current professional status and licensure.
   • Adhering to professional standards of conduct and clinical code of ethics and practice.
   • Providing new employee orientation and ongoing staff development programs.
   • Developing and implementing in-service orientation schedules.
   • Maintaining a current body of knowledge in areas of clinical expertise through seminars,professional journals, and peers.
   • Meeting continuing education requirements of regulatory agencies.
4. 4. Aids in building and maintaining the facility’s reputation as the unparalleled respiratory therapy provider by contribution as a professional member of the staff.
   • Consistently demonstrating the facility’s core values by interacting with co-workers, patients and families, with all other persons involved with the patient’s care.
   • Consistently demonstrating professional standards as outlined in the facility’s EmployeeHandbook and as communicated by the facility’s management.
   • Contributing to a positive work team by sharing information, using problem solvingmethods and accepting new ideas, constructive criticism, or advice from others.
   • Maintaining close communications within the facility with the director of nursing, nursemanagers, and admissions coordinator to assist in development of the respiratory therapy program.
   • Establishing and maintaining an effective rapport with the facility administrator, MDS, Rehab Director, DON, andmedical director.
   • Demonstrating superior customer service through courtesy, consistent follow-up andpositive communication.
5. 5. Provides patient treatments which meet patient needs and uses current treatment knowledge in accordance with facilities clinical procedures. This includes but is not. limited to:
   • Performing accurate, comprehensive patient evaluations.
   • Developing an effective plan of treatment and obtaining appropriate approvals from a referringphysician.
   • Communicating with supervisor and interdisciplinary team members regarding patientprogress, problems, and treatment plans.
   • Instructing patient’s families and/or nursing staff in specified follow through programs.
   • Interviewing patients and families regarding previous level of functioning, lifestyle andcurrent and future expectations for recovery.
   • Demonstrating knowledge of appropriate resources for problem-solving and clinical bestpractice.
   • Evaluating patients within the required timeframe as per facility policies.Provides patient care as appropriate and necessary, following the position description for the applicable clinical discipline in which licensure or certification is held.
6. 6. Writes accurate, complete, and clear documentation in accordance with CareRiteCenters, regulatory, licensing, payor, and accrediting requirements.
   • Recording Screens/Resident Needs Reviews, evaluations, daily treatment notes,in accordance with facility Policies and Procedures.
   • Recording treatment charges accurately and ensuring that documentation is consistentwith billing data.
   • Writing specific, objective documentation that is outcome oriented and details thepatient’s needs, potential to benefit from treatment, and progress achieved to date.Includes specific, objective measurable goals.
7. 7. Consistently demonstrates facility interdisciplinary approach to patient care.
   • Integrating findings of other members of the interdisciplinary team in treatment assessment and recommendations.
   • Integrating input from patient and family in treatment assessment and recommendations.
   • Preparing for and providing meaningful contributions to the rehab team conferences,patient care conferences, utilization review meetings, family conferences, andcaregiver training sessions.
   • Collaborating with and informing facility staff in areas of patient progress.
   • Educating members of the team in areas of expertise.
   • Working with a facility to teach documentation practices which assist the respiratorytherapy team.
   • Communicating effectively with discharge planners.
8. 8. Demonstrates safe working practices.
   • This includes but is not limited to:
   • Identifying and correcting safety hazards or notifying the facility or the adminso that safety hazards will be immediately remedied.
   • Maintaining work areas in safe and orderly fashion.
   • Maintaining equipment in safe working order by facilitation annual calibration.
   • Using proper body mechanics during treatments of patients and during support activities.
   • Using universal safety precautions.
   • Wearing appropriate protective equipment.

QUALIFICATIONS:

1. 9. Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:
   • Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
   • Knowledge of the respiratory community.
   • Demonstrated leadership and management skills.
   • Skills applicable to clinical discipline.
     • Knowledge of medical terminology.
     • Knowledge of current payment system
     • Knowledge and ability to carry out strategic operational plans
     • Basic knowledge of Minimal Data Set
     • Knowledge of respiratory disease and diseases that affect the respiratory system.
     • Ability to use respiratory therapy equipment.
     • Ability to exercise judgment and discretion in devising, installing and interpreting rules, regulations, policies, or procedures.
     • Ability to supervise staff of professional, technical, and clerical subordinates in a manner conducive to full performance and high morale.
     • Ability to express ideas and information, clearly, concisely, verbally and writing.
     • Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, superiors, and officials of other departments.
   • Program development and implementation
   • Management and administration of therapies as prescribed by a physician and according to the standard procedure.

Education and Experience:

• Graduation from an accredited program for Respiratory Therapy preferred
• Must possess and maintain a current license in the state of practice as required
• Other education and experience may be considered.

QUALIFICATIONS/REQUIREMENTS:

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