Provides specialized and complex treatments to patients with respiratory problems.
Positions assigned to this class may supervise a staff of respiratory therapists and technicians and administer complex respiratory therapy treatments to patients in critical care units and in rehabilitation clinics.
Administers oxygen and other gas, humidity, and aerosol therapies. Administers respiratory therapy medications. Administers intermittent positive pressure breathing treatments. Performs pulmonary function tests to determine extent of breathing impairments. Measures arterial blood gases. Monitors patients' responses to therapy and charts pertinent information. Provides emergency respiratory treatment in an intensive care unit. Performs advanced pulmonary function tests and blood gas analyses. Performs endotracheal intubation, tracheotomy care and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Supervises and coordinates the work of respiratory therapists and technicians. Instructs therapists, technicians, nurses, auxiliary health care personnel, patients, and families in various respiratory therapy techniques and the proper use of equipment. Assists in didactic and clinical instruction. Consults with physicians regarding the technical management of patients receiving respiratory therapy. Participates in rehabilitation of outpatients with pulmonary diseases. Participates in respiratory therapy research projects. Evaluates new equipment or recently repaired equipment to ensure proper operation.
Knowledge of respiratory therapy techniques and procedures. Knowledge of respiratory anatomy, physiology, and the nature of respiratory diseases and of the various medications used in respiratory therapy. Skill in the operation and maintenance of respiratory therapy equipment. Ability to teach respiratory therapy procedures to patients, families, technicians, and auxiliary health care personnel. Ability to effectively supervise and train respiratory therapy personnel.
Certification as a Respiratory Therapy Technician with experience in respiratory therapy; or graduation from an American Medical Association-approved program for respiratory therapists with experience in respiratory therapy; or designation as a Registered Respiratory Therapist with the National Board for Respiratory Therapy.