Pulmonary function technician job description

Pulmonary Function Technician

Department: Pulmonary Services

Purpose: Performs pulmonary-function, lung-capacity, and blood-and-oxygen test to gather data for use by physician in diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary disorders. Confers with patient in treatment room to explain test procedures. Explains specified methods of breathing to patient and conducts pulmonary-function test. Observes and records reading on metering devices of analysis equipment, and conveys findings of tests and analyses of physician for interpretation. May also perform blood analysis tests to measure such factors as oxygen and carbon dioxide tensions, hemoglobin saturation and levels, and pH of blood, using blood gas analyzer.

Report To: Manager, Respiratory Care

Supervisory Responsibility: No Supervision: The job does not require the provision of guidance or supervision to others. There is no formal responsibility for directing others.

Materials Responsibility: Limited: Work requires limited responsibility for material resources. Examples of resources could include supplies, equipment, inventories, small budgets, and other similar material assets. The employee has a limited amount of control over these resources. The cost of errors is also limited in terms of damage, waste or financial loss. Problems associated with material resources are not complex. The volume of resources may vary, but the level of difficulty in dealing with these resources is uncomplicated.

Key Relationship: Co-workers/Health System Employees, Outside Agencies/Other Health Care Providers, General Public/Visitors/Volunteers, Physicians/Medical Office Staff, Students/Interns/Residents/Outside Instructors, Patients, Families, and Significant Others

POSITION SPECIFICATION

Education: 2 year college program or equivalent experience

Field Of Study: Respiratory Care

Special Training:

Training Preferred: Certified pulmonary function testing, ACLS within 6 months of hire, Successful Completion of Basic EKG Interpretation course, Basic Life Support

Licensure/Registration: RRT State of Iowa

Experience: Less than 1 year experience required.

Interpersonal Skills: Interaction is with a wide variety of people inside or outside the organization. Communications are often extremely difficult or stressful in nature. Contact with others involves highly complex and sensitive topics. The job requires extremely well developed interpersonal skills for dealing with a range of complicated problem situations. The job requires the use of diverse communication techniques.

Working Conditions: There is limited exposure to adverse environmental conditions. Some undesirable or unpleasant environmental characteristics may occur but the physical environment is generally safe and there is minimal health risk. No safety equipment or unusual precautions are required. The occasional exposure to these minor adverse conditions would be limited to 35% or less of the work day.

Possible Exposure to Blood Borne Pathogens: Yes

Miscellaneous:

About Children's Minnesota

Children's Minnesota is one of the largest pediatric health systems in the United States and the only health system in Minnesota to provide care exclusively to children, from before birth through young adulthood. An independent and not-for-profit system since 1924, Children's Minnesota is one system serving kids throughout the Upper Midwest at two free-standing hospitals, nine primary care clinics, multiple specialty clinics and seven rehabilitation sites. As The Kids Experts™ in our region, Children's Minnesota is regularly ranked by U.S. News & World Report as a top children's hospital. Find us on Facebook @childrensminnesota or on Twitter and Instagram @childrensmn. Please visit childrens MN.org.

Department Overview

This specialized department provides attended diagnostic testing services relating to the control of respiration, sleep staging, and esophageal pH recordings. Currently, Children's Hospitals and Clinics' St. Paul has the only diagnostic sleep lab in the upper mid-west dedicated solely to the care of the pediatric population. Patients range in age from pre-term infants to young adults with special needs. The sleep lab is nationally accredited by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. There are less than 10 fully accredited pediatric sleep laboratories in the United States.

Position Summary

This position is comprised of a wide variety of important responsibilities regarding infant and pediatric diagnostic testing. All duties directly impact patient care and are focused on obtaining a diagnosis and/or therapy options for referring physicians. The position interfaces closely with Neonatologists, Pulmonologists, Cardiologists, Pediatricians, Family Practice and various referring physicians, nursing staff, patient and families and others both inside and outside the hospital. Procedures Include: Cardiorespiratory Studies (pneumograms and memory monitor unit recordings) ABR Testing (infant hearing screening). Pulmonary Function Testing, Spirometry, FeNO testing, Diagnostic Car Seat Testing, EKGs, Hypoxic Challenges, 6 minute Walk Tests, impedance pH testing and Cardiopulmonary Stress Testing.

This position may require cross campus work.

Required:

* Graduate of Accredited Respiratory Therapy School
* Current Minnesota State Respiratory Care Practitioner License
* Current BLS Certification

Preferred/Desired:

* Pediatric Experience
* RRT Eligible/Obtained
* CPFT or RPFT
* Asthma Educator Certification

All job offers are contingent upon successful completion of an occupational health assessment, drug screen, background investigation, and compliance with the U.S. Government Form I-9, Employment Eligibility Verification. Children's Minnesota requires proof of COVID-19 vaccine, and as recommended by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), immunity to vaccine preventable infectious diseases, prior to employment.

Children's Minnesota is committed to providing Equal Employment Opportunities to all applicants. EO M/F/Disability/Vet Employer.

Responsibilities

Perform pulmonary function and exercise testing on patients within the assigned ambulatory clinic. Generate reports using standardized procedures. Provide pulmonary function laboratory maintenance.

Limited may convert to career.

Qualifications

Knowledge of a biological science or related field in order to perform pulmonary function testing.

Skill in performing routine pulmonary function tests.

Familiarity, knowledge, and ability to trouble-shoot: equipment routinely found in a pulmonary function laboratory.

Ability to learn quickly and to transfer the knowledge from using one piece of equipment to a similar one.

Ability to communicate on a one-to-one basis, with patients to explain and coach them during the test performance.

Ability to demonstrate a humanistic, caring attitude to co-workers, administrators, patients, visitors, staff, faculty, physicians, and on-site servicemen.

Ability to adapt to varying workloads and work environments.

Ability to work independently with minimum supervision.

Ability to interact appropriately with other staff members, laboratory workers and physicians.

Ability to accept direction from supervisor's and to follow-through on assignments.

Ability to maintain a good standard of attendance and punctuality.

Skill in performing repetitive work according to set procedures, sequence, and pace.

Responsive to human needs. Skill in interacting diplomatically with patients, families, and diverse populations under highly stressful conditions.

Provide age-appropriate assessment, interaction, and intervention to meet the needs of clients served.

Sensitivity to confidentiality issues concerning patients and family and commitment to complying with confidentiality issues at all times (i.e., during and after working hours).

Ability to perform the following activities using proper body mechanics: transferring a patient weighing a minimum of 100 lbs., lift and carry a minimum of 35 lbs.

Minimum 1 year experience performing Cardiopulmonary Exercise Studies preferred.

California RCP REQUIRED.

RRT and CPFT REQUIRED.

RPFT Preferred

Able to work independently

UCLA is an Equal Opportunity/Affirmative Action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or protected Veteran status.

UCLA Health welcomes all individuals, without regard to race, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, religion, national origin or disabilities, and we proudly look to each person's unique achievements and experiences to further set us apart.