The Pulmonary Clinic Respiratory Therapist is assigned to the Vero Beach VA Clinic and reports directly to the Chief of Respiratory Care and assists Pulmonary Medicine providers in determining which veterans need supplemental home oxygen and home sleep studies. Responsibilities include serving as a liaison between clinicians, veterans in need of home oxygen therapy, and the outside provider to facilitate the efficient, effective delivery.
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. 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). Education: Successful completion of a respiratory care program accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor is required. (If your school program was accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (CoARC) or its successor at the time of graduation, but is no longer listed on the websites, or has changed names, you must provide documentation of accreditation with your application packet. Failure to do so will result in an ineligible rating). NOTE: A transcript from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions must be submitted with your application. Licensure: A full, current and unrestricted license from an state to practice as a Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) is required. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your license(s) with your application. Credential: A valid, current, unrestricted credential from the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) as a Registered Respiratory Therapists (RRT) is required. NOTE: You must submit a copy of your credential(s) with your application. 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. 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). Grandfathering Provision. The following is the standard grandfathering policy for all hybrid title 38 qualification standards. Some of these provisions may not apply to this occupation. Please carefully review the qualification standard to determine the specific education, credential or certification requirements that apply to this occupation. All persons employed in VHA in this occupational series or in another occupational series and performing the duties as described in the qualification standard on the effective date of this qualification standard are considered to have met all qualification requirements for the grade held, including positive education, credential or certification that are part of the basic requirements of the occupation. For employees who do not meet all the basic requirements required in this standard, but who met the qualifications applicable to the position at the time they were appointed to it, the following provisions apply: Employees in an occupation that does not require a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted or demoted within the occupation. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration, may be reassigned, promoted up to and including the full performance level or demoted within the occupation, but may not be promoted beyond the full performance level or placed in supervisory or managerial positions. Employees in an occupation that requires a licensure, certification or registration only at higher grade levels must meet the licensure, certification or registration requirement before they can be promoted to those higher grade levels. Employees who are appointed on a temporary basis prior to the effective date of the qualification standard may not have their temporary appointment extended or be reappointed, on a temporary or permanent basis, until they fully meet the basic requirements of the standard. Employees initially grandfathered into this occupation, who subsequently obtain additional education and/or licensure, certification or registration that meet all the basic requirements of this qualification standard must maintain the required credentials as a condition of employment in the occupation. If an employee who was retained in an occupation listed in 38 U.S.C. § 7401(3) under this provision leaves that occupation or employment with the VA, the employee loses protected status and must meet the full VA qualification standard requirements in effect at the time of reentry to the occupation and/or VA. Grade Determinations: Registered Respiratory Therapist (Pulmonary), GS-12 - Experience, Licensure and Credential: Candidates must have: One year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the following clinical competencies: Ability to collaboratively consult with physicians and other healthcare professionals for complex respiratory care to develop care plans to provide favorable patient outcomes. Skill in evaluating the efficacies of therapeutic modalities. Skill in performing advanced airway and ventilation management. AND Hold an active license and RRT credential. Certification: Applicants must hold a Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) or Registered Pulmonary Function Technologist (RPFT). NOTE: You must submit a copy of your certification. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the experience requirements listed above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Knowledge of complex pulmonary function testing to include but not limited to cardiopulmonary stress testing, exercise testing, metabolic testing, bronchoprovocation testing and shunt testing. Ability to establish a quality control program related to pulmonary function lab. Skill in analyzing physiologic specimen and information from basic diagnostic procedures. Skill in assessing for signs and symptoms of adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures. Skill in determining appropriate intervention for adverse actions to medications and or testing procedures. Ability to provide training in advanced pulmonary function procedures. Ability to provide clinical consultation in advanced pulmonary function procedures. Preferred Experience: Minimum two (2) years of current Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT), Home oxygen, and home sleep studies experiences. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/OHRM/QualificationStandards/HT38/0601-RegisteredRespiratoryTherapist.pdf. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements.
Major duties for the Pulmonary Clinic Respiratory Therapist include, but are not limited to: Assess compliance with medications and perform relevant functional status evaluations, including measurement of oxygen saturation. Sets up home sleep test. Maintains a computerized database on all veterans with respiratory disorders who require home oxygen, including relevant demographic data, diagnosis, pertinent historical data, current prescription, proper equipment, and annual veteran consultations. Notifies provider(s) of veterans that do not meet VHA medical criteria for receiving home oxygen and collaborate with local contracted vendor clinician(s) as the VA clinical contract for the Home Oxygen/Respiratory Care Program and HST regarding the veteran's medical concerns with follow through to veterans and provider(s). Participates in departmental reviews of home oxygen veterans, follow written Quality Control (QC) procedures, develop Quality Assurance (QA) monitors, collect QA data, and report QA data to the Home Oxygen Committee and Sharepoint site. Ensures veterans are scheduled for follow-up appointments as stated in the VHA Directives, VISN and local policies, and will be accountable for all home oxygen prescriptions and renewal of such in a timely manner. Monitors and evaluates the patient's clinical condition with pulse oximetry, electrocardiogram, exhaled gas analysis, and other related diagnostic devices. Performs arterial and venous sampling for blood analysis. Reviews and interpret pulmonary function studies (spirometry) and pulse oximetry. Reviews and interprets arterial blood gases, electrolytes, complete blood cell count, and related laboratory tests. Skill in the development of and implementation of appropriate standards of care for Respiratory Care. Formulates evaluation of equipment needs, preventive maintenance and organization of expendable and non-expendable equipment and supplies related to the program. Recommends care plan modifications by recognizing additional needs that exist (e.g., bathroom safety, wheelchairs, electric beds, portable supplemental oxygen delivery systems). Work Schedule: Monday - Friday, 7:30 am - 4:00 pm Telework: Not Available Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: PD41736F Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized