Pulmonary Function Technician - Cardiovascular Research Institute

UCSF Health, AG; San Francisco (CA); On-site; USD 60,000 - 80,000; Full time

Job summary

UCSF Health is seeking a Pulmonary Function Technician to perform pulmonary function and exercise tests on patients and research participants, aiding diagnosis and disease management.

You will coach patients through demanding, effort-dependent tests, learn diverse lung function measurements, and follow detailed protocols to produce reproducible, accurate results using complex equipment and software. Team collaboration and patient sensitivity are essential.

Qualifications

• Graduation from college with a major in an applicable natural science, plus one year of related experience.
• Excellent interpersonal skills both verbal and written.
• Ability to multitask and work closely with others.
• Ability to troubleshoot problems independently and in a team setting.
• Effective communication with patients and sensitivity to their needs.

Responsibilities

• Perform pulmonary function testing on outpatients, inpatients, and research participants, including spirometry, DLCO, MBV, and other measurements.
• Instruct and coach patients to perform demanding, effort-dependent tests.
• Follow established protocols to obtain reproducible, accurate results and understand equipment and software.
• Handle specimens/materials, verify acceptability, and communicate issues for billing or processing.
• Assist with research projects that require pulmonary function or exercise testing as an evaluation criterion.

Skills

Interpersonal communication

Multitasking

Team collaboration

Patient sensitivity

Problem solving

Education

College degree in natural science

Job description

The Pulmonary Function Technician performs pulmonary function and exercise tests on patients. These tests are used to diagnose and manage disease in patients. The pulmonary function technician also participates in research projects that require pulmonary function or exercise testing as an evaluation criterion.

The major portion of the pulmonary function technician's duties includes instructing and properly coaching patients to perform highly demanding, "effort-dependent" breathing tests, both independently and under minimal supervision, sometimes with very ill patients.

The technician must learn all the various lung function measurements to generate reproducible, accurate results. An important factor in performing the testing is the ability to fully understand the equipment's technical aspects, as well as to comprehend various computerized hardware and software applications. Following a variety of detail-specific protocols is critical to the success of this position.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform pulmonary function testing on outpatients, inpatients, and research participants. Testing includes spirometry, diffusing capacity, single breath oxygen distribution, nitrogen washout, maximal voluntary ventilation, maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressures, body plethysmography, airway resistance and lung volume measurements. Other studies include methacholine provocations, invasive and non-invasive cardiopulmonary exercise tests, arterial blood gas preparation and six minute walk tests.
• Other job duties as assigned
• Receives specimens/materials, ascertains their acceptability against established criteria, investigates incomplete or unacceptable submissions, and provides timely follow-up communication with appropriate individuals/departments/offices when materials are determined to be unacceptable or lack adequate information for billing or clinical processing

Required Qualifications:

• Graduation from college with a major in an applicable natural science, including one year of experience in the kind of work to be performed; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Excellent interpersonal skills both verbal and written
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to work closely with other employees
• Ability to troubleshoot problems independently and in a team setting
• Able to communicate effectively with patients and be sensitive to their needs

Preferred Qualifcations:

• Pulmonary Function Certificate
• Phlebotomy experience
• Comfortable with human blood
• Ability to use statistics
• Coursework in physiology
• Experience working with (extremely ill) patients in a hospital or clinic setting

Required Qualifications:

• Graduation from college with a major in an applicable natural science, including one year of experience in the kind of work to be performed; or an equivalent combination of education and experience
• Excellent interpersonal skills both verbal and written
• Ability to multitask
• Ability to work closely with other employees
• Ability to troubleshoot problems independently and in a team setting
• Able to communicate effectively with patients and be sensitive to their needs

Preferred Qualifcations:

• Pulmonary Function Certificate
• Phlebotomy experience
• Comfortable with human blood
• Ability to use statistics
• Coursework in physiology
• Experience working with (extremely ill) patients in a hospital or clinic setting