Respiratory Therapist, Home Medical Equipment Vent Specialist - PRN

The Respiratory Therapist Home Medical Equipment Ventilation Specialist provides Respiratory Care services to patients in their homes, clinics, or at one of the Mercyhealth at Home locations. The Respiratory Therapist is responsible for establishing and implementing care plans, educating patients/caregivers and evaluating progress toward goals.

• Schedule: PRN/Pool - Flexible as needed coverage.
• Shift: Days

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

Provides instruction to patients and/or caregivers primarily on the proper use of in-home ventilation equipment. Methods of ventilation include invasive and non-invasive

Monitors patient compliance and data to ventilation therapy via cloud technology. Makes critical ventilation setting adjustments/recommendations to following physicians in order to maintain patients' quality of life and prevent ER visits and hospital readmissions.

Makes ventilator setting adjustment per physician's orders/parameters while working independently in patient's home. Monitors patient's vital signs to ensure no adverse outcomes to ventilator setting adjustments. Takes immediate actions as needed to maintain the health and safety of patient.

Provides instruction to patients and/or caregivers on the proper use of other respiratory care equipment including but not limited to; home oxygen, nebulizers, and positive airway pressure.

• Establishes and implements care plans, following provider orders, and evaluates progress toward goals
• Follows clinical protocols and procedures as approved by Mercyhealth at Home
• Ensures patient and/or caregivers can effectively operate and maintain ventilators and ancillary equipment by using the teach back method of training.
• Answers questions and concerns from patients and customers related to respiratory equipment
• Participates in multidisciplinary team patient care conferences as needed.

Following the provider's orders/parameters, safely performs and documents respiratory care procedures in a manner consistent with Mercyhealth at Home policy.

Accurately enters work orders for products into the HME software system to ensure timely and accurate billing of claims

Assesses appropriateness of equipment based on the patient's ability to use and evaluates patient's home environment to ensure safe use of equipment.

Prepares and maintains a record for each patient containing all pertinent information, care plans, prescriptions and follow-up documentation.

Obtains required documentation in order to streamline referral processes and meet regulatory and reimbursement requirements.

Inspects, tests, and cleans equipment to ensure proper operating condition.

Loads and secures equipment to be delivered in an appropriate manner to prevent damage and contamination to equipment during transit

Completes documentation associated with delivery of products timely, in accordance with company policy and regulatory requirements.

Maintains a current knowledge base of regulatory and payer coverage guidelines to assure timely and adequate reimbursement.

Functions independently in an on-call, after hour role to make decisions to resolve patient issues and questions and deliver equipment.

Education and/or Experience

• Graduate of an accredited Respiratory Care Program
• 1 year of experience required

Certification and Licensure

Certified or Registered Respiratory Therapist

Licensed by the State of Wisconsin or Illinois at time of hire; dual-licensed within 6 months of hire Approved CPR or BLS

Additional Requirements

• Passing the Driver’s License Check and/or Credit Check (for those positions requiring).
• Passing the WI Caregiver Background Check and/or IL Health Care Workers Background Check.
• Must be able to follow written/oral instructions.

Work Environment

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet to moderate

Occupational Exposure: Category A - All partners in the specified job classification have occupational exposure.

AGE of Patients Served

• Neonate (birth – 28 days)
• Infant (29 days – less than 1 year)
• Pediatric (1 year – 12 years)
• Adolescents (13 years – 17 years)
• Adult (18 years – 64 years)
• Geriatric (65 years and older)

Information Access

Partner may access patient care information needed to perform their job duties.

Work Contact Group

Partners, physicians, patients/family, visitors, vendors

Special Physical Demands

The Special Physical Demands are considered Essential Job Functions of the position with or without reasonable accommodations.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms; climb, balance, talk, and hear. The employee is occasionally required to sit, stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl, taste, and smell.

Specific vision abilities require by this job include frequent ability to adjust focus and occasionally distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, and depth perception. The employee must regularly lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally exert up to 100 pounds of force.

Level of Supervision

Work requires a moderate level of independent judgment along with good interpretive and interpersonal skills with justification and accountability to department leadership

Pay Range

$27.17 - $42.11

Mercyhealth is an Equal Opportunity Employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identify, national origin, disability, or protected veteran status.

Mercyhealth offers competitive pay and benefits, including retirement, time off, on-demand pay, access to the Employee Assistance Program (EAP), and more. Click here for more details.

At Mercyhealth, we don’t simply hire people, we empower employee-partners who are passionate about making lives better. As an integrated health system, we deliver exceptional, coordinated across seven hospitals, 85 primary and specialty clinics, and a team of over 7,500 professionals serving northern Illinois and southern Wisconsin.

Mercyhealth has been nationally recognized for our commitment to our people and culture, including:

#1 in the nation on AARP's Best Employers for Workers Over 50

• One of Working Mother magazine's 100 Best Companies for Working Mothers
• A Top 50 Company and Top 10 Nonprofit for Executive Women