Respiratory Therapist

Provides patient care, assists and performs respiratory care services and basic cardiopulmonary diagnostic test procedures and basic polysomnography studies for neonatal, paediatric and adult patients per the clinical objectives established by the ordering or attending physicians, the Pulmonary Consultants, Intensivists, other Specialty Medical Consultants, Assistant Director of Cardiopulmonary and Deputy Chief Medical Officer following the American Hospital Dubai's Cardiopulmonary Clinical Policy and Procedures, the Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA), the Dubai Health Authority (DHA), the American Heart Association (AHA), the American Thoracic Society (ATS), the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) and the American Association of Sleep Medicine (AASM) clinical practices and guidelines.

Minimum Qualifications:

• Bachelor's degree in Respiratory Therapy or
• Associate degree in Respiratory Therapy (minimum two (2) years course duration) or
• Bachelor's in nursing followed by a Postgraduate qualification in Respiratory Therapy
• Basic Life Support (BLS) and Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS)
• Paediatric Advanced Life Support (PALS) preferred
• Basic Pulmonary Diagnostic Tests and Basic Polysomnography (PSG) Studies preferred

Professional Experience:

• Minimum of two (2) years of clinical experience as a Respiratory Care Practitioner and/or as a Respiratory Therapist with a clinical background to perform basic cardiopulmonary is required and basic polysomnography studies preferred
• Minimum of two (2) years of clinical experience working in the neonatal, paediatric, and adult critical care units preferred
• Clinical experience working in other areas including the outpatient clinic, the inpatient ward, and the emergency department is required, and respiratory home care is preferred
• Ability to operate and troubleshoot basic diagnostic test machines that include Pulmonary Function Test (PFT) machine, and the Polysomnography (PSG) system preferred

Quality and Accuracy:

• Performs safe and quality respiratory care services and basic cardiopulmonary diagnostic tests following the clinical policy and procedures established by the American Hospital Dubai and the Cardiopulmonary Department. He or she is not allowed to perform advanced cardiology and neurology diagnostic test procedures and advanced polysomnography studies.
• Responds to the patient's emergency and assists/performs Basic Life Support (BLS), Advanced Cardiac Life Support (ACLS) and/or Pediatric Advance Life Support (PALS) and Neonatal Resuscitation Program (NRP) whenever clinically indicated and/or required as prescribed by the physician.
• Performs comprehensive patient assessment and re-assessment before, during or after each clinical test procedure and following the clinical standards established by the World Health Organization assessment and the Joint Commission International Accreditation (JCIA) - International Patient Safety Goals (IPSG) requirement.
• Communicates directly with the attending or the ordering physician and/or the Medical Consultant and immediately reports any of the following that includes vague or contraindicated diagnostic procedures, unstable patient's baseline vital signs, preliminary but critical diagnostic findings or test results, test complications, medications adverse reactions, patient's refusal to diagnostic testing and any serious clinical events or a patient emergency.
• Participates in the weekly critical patient care rounds along with another multidisciplinary team in the Intensive Care Unit.
• Participates in the daily end-of-the-shift patient care plan review and clinical events reporting.

Quantity/Organizational Skills:

• Reviews the daily patient diagnostic test schedules, patient daily acuity and the patient's medical records before the test procedure.
• Prepares all the medical equipment required for daily diagnostic testing and performs daily functional checks and calibration before diagnostic test procedures including checking all accessories and supplies required during the test procedures.
• Identifies the correct patient, and assists the patient and/or the patient’s relative with the registration and billing process requirements.
• Admits the patient to the department and/or visits the patient in a specified clinical area and independently performs the prescribed diagnostic test procedure.
• Aerosol Therapy (Heated or Non Heated Oxygen Delivery System)
• Peak Expiratory Flow Measurement.
• Forced Vital Capacity Measurement.
• Blood Gas Sampling and Analysis and interpretation (arterial venous capillary and fetal).
• Emergency Response and/or Assistance (Code Blue, Code Green)
• Patient critical transport assistance inside or outside the hospital.
• Patient Respiratory Care Education and In-services (Patient planned for discharge for respiratory care procedures and treatments and respiratory medical equipment set-up and preventive maintenance.
• Assesses the patient before the procedure and administers the prescribed respiratory treatment with the respiratory medications that are required during the Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) test and re-assesses the patient including the therapeutic or adverse effects of the medications administered.
• Performs independently the following Pulmonary Diagnostic Test/respiratory treatment (small volume nebulizer SVN) that includes:
  
  • Spirometry
  • Spirometry Pre and Post
  • Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) Complete
  • Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) Complete Pre and Post bronchodilator
  • Performs Fraction of Exhaled Nitric Oxide Measurement.
  • Continuous Nocturnal Pulse Oximetry Monitoring
  • Six (6) Minutes Walking/Exercise Pulse Oximetry Test