The therapist works within the Medical Specialty Service Line of the University Drive Division of the Pittsburgh VA Healthcare System. The therapist is responsible for providing all ordered modalities of care as outlined in the Respiratory Therapy Section Policy and Procedure manual. The majority of the therapist duties will be in the sleep clinic lab.
Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. Education: Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor. Licensure: Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current, and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT. Credential: Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT. Loss of Licensure, Certification, or Credentials. An employee in this occupation, who fails to maintain the required certifications, RRT credential or license must be removed from the occupation, which may also result in the termination of employment. Once credentialed, licensed, or certified, RTs/RRTs must maintain a full, valid, and unrestricted license, credential and certification to practice respiratory care. English Language Proficiency: RTs/RRTs appointed to direct patient-care positions must be proficient in spoken and written English as required by 38 U.S.C. § 7403(f). May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: GS-11 level Experience, Licensure, and Credential require that candidates must have: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-09 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. Hold an active license and RRT credential. Preferred Experience: Registered Polysomnographic Technologist is a certification for individuals who perform polysomnography, a sleep study test used to diagnose and treat sleep disorders. (RPSGT certification) Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-11. Physical Requirements: Work is primarily performed in all patient care areas (in-patient and outpatient). Respiratory Therapists will have extensive interaction with patients, staff, physicians, family members, and visitors. It may involve walking, standing, and bending, reaching and stretching to set-up and taking apart equipment, lifting, and positioning patient and carrying, pushing or pulling moderate heavy objects (15-44lbs). Respiratory Therapists must have or obtain the ability to handle varying levels of stress in a positive manner.
Duties and responsibilities include, but are not limited to: 1. It is required that therapists be registered by the National Board of Respiratory Care (NBRC) or possess a certificate from another body which the NBRC recognizes as its credentialing equivalent. Therapists must also possess a current license from the state. 2. The therapist must have the interpersonal skills required to work as a cooperative and integral member of the team of physicians, nurse caregivers, and other hospital personnel who care for patients. The therapist must also possess the personal skills required to deal with sick and suffering human beings, and distraught family members, and be able to relate to these individuals in a caring and professional manner. 3. The position has three areas of responsibility: (A) Clinical support in the sleep laboratory for patients on CP AP and BP AP, (B) direct patient care in the home oxygen clinic, (C) other responsibilities as assigned. A. Expected duties and roles: I. Sleep laboratory and clinic duties: The incumbent will assist the sleep laboratory director or other appropriate physicians in staffing a CPAP/BPAP clinical program that focuses on support of existing CPAP/BPAP patients with therapy. He/she will work with sleep laboratory personnel and prosthetics to efficiently manage CPAP/BPAP patients focusing on long-term care of these patients. The therapist will maintain knowledge of CPAP/BPAP and other respiratory assist devices. The therapist will assist with mask fittings, compliance downloads, home sleep testing set-up and education, and other clinic technician duties as needed. The therapist will score completed sleep studies. II. Home oxygen clinic: The incumbent is responsible for evaluation of patients referred for oxygen therapy as assigned. The evaluation will include visual physical examination of the pattern of breathing and chest auscultation, as indicated. He or she will conduct oxygen therapy evaluations that emphasize appropriateness of oxygen therapy based on VA and CMS guidelines and ensure patient knowledge of oxygen therapy and proper and safe use of oxygen equipment. He or she will be capable of supervising 6 minute walk tests and will be able to perform them consistently for both clinical and research applications. The therapist will be able to perform testing and educate patients on the use of a variety of oxygen devices including, but not limited to, self-fill systems, portable oxygen concentrators, and liquid oxygen. The therapist will be certified for arterial blood gas specimen draws and will complete processing and interpretation of abnormal values. The therapist will follow all processes for notifying the appropriate physician when clinically significant abnormalities are detected. III. Other duties: Other duties in line with the incumbent's training and skills may be required from time-to-time. To include, but not limited to, performing bronchoscopy set-up and assist duties and performing pulmonary function tests. 5. Documentation: The therapist is responsible for documenting all work done in the appropriate format, in accordance with VAPHS policy. D. OTHER RESPONSIBILITIES Respiratory Therapy requires that the technician/therapist possess a sufficient manual dexterity and knowledge base to adapt to new techniques, which may be developed in the future. Work Schedule: Monday-Friday 8:00 A.M.-4:30 P.M. Compressed/Flexible: Not authorized Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized