Respiratory Therapist (RT) - Pediatric Transport

Sign-On Bonus Available - Up to $20,000

May be eligible for our Loan Forgiveness program - Up to $20,000

Relocation Bonus Available

Location : 395 W. Lake St, Elmhurst (may also be required to work a shift at Advocate Children's Hospital in Oak Lawn and / or Park Ridge).

Pay Range : $33.40 - $50.10

We want our teammates and their families to Live Well. Actual compensation offered in the Pay Range (above) will be based on factors such as qualifications, skills, relevant experience and / or training and internal equity.

To accompany base pay, we offer a comprehensive benefits package including :

• Shift differentials for PM, Nights, Weekends (based on job profile)
• 401(k) company contribution : 3% of your eligible annual salary AND 401(k) employer match : Dollar for dollar match up to 3%
• Opportunity for yearly merit increases within the salary range

About Us : The Transport Team provides interfacility transports via ambulance and rotor wing for critically ill or injured infants and children to one of our Advocate Children's Hospitals located in Oak Lawn or Park Ridge or Endeavor Healthcare System.

Our transfer center facilitates transports across the United States with a majority of transports occurring within Illinois, Indiana and Wisconsin.

Our team is focused on providing the highest level of quality and safe care for all children and families. We continue to grow and be nationally recognized for excellence in Transport.

1. Recipient of the 2024-2025 APEX award for excellence in respiratory care

2. Expansion of scope and autonomy with competencies such as but not limited to intubations, chest tube placement and line placement.

3. Extensive opportunities to represent our team locally and nationally at Neonatal / Pediatric Conferences.

Job Profile Summary : The Interfacility Transport RCP has an intuitive grasp of clinical situations and demonstrates comprehensive knowledge and experience.

S / he is a recognized resource, leader, and problem solver. S / he seeks out challenging patients and shares expertise with others.

The Interfacility Transport RCP is an experienced RCP that provides comprehensive respiratory care to the critically ill / injured patient (neonatal, pediatric, and / or adult with a pediatric chronic disease) in the mobile environment of air and ground transports.

Through the use of expanded skills, the Transport RCP is responsible for the accurate assessment, planning, implementation of and evaluation of respiratory care for assigned patient under the direction of the Transport Medical Control Physician.

The transport team composition consist of RN / RCP and is capable of multi-mode transports utilizing ground, rotor, and fixed wing.

The Transport RCP is also responsible for performing job duties that are consist with the BOE.

Major Responsibilities :

Patient Care Activities

o Obtains pertinent maternal, neonatal, and pediatric histories with emphasis on risk factors and implications for problems and incorporates that in plan of care.

o Performs pertinent physical examination related to respiratory practice.

o Formulates differential diagnosis and a plan of care of existing and potential problems in collaboration with Transport RN and Transport Medical Control Physician (TMCP).

o Recognizes and treats changes in clinical situations (including life threatening conditions) and implements changes to the transport plan of care based on Standing Transport Protocols and TMCP recommendations.

o Exercises independent judgment in situations when sudden clinical changes occur and understand and implements necessary interventions and their expected outcomes based on Transport Protocols and TMCP recommendations

o Performs necessary diagnostic and therapeutic procedures as indicated for identification and management of problems as indicated by protocols and / or TMCP recommendations, including but not limited to (Patient stabilization, Airway management, needle aspiration of pleural space, interpretation of routine laboratory and radiographic data, intraosseous insertion, spinal immobilization, trauma primary and secondary assessment / management, blood drawing, insertion of peripheral IVs and all other procedures as trained).

o Provides clinical management for resuscitation, with independent manner per protocol, of the neonatal, pediatric, and / or adolescent patient, including necessary pharmacological support during interfacility transports.

o Provides ongoing monitoring, assessment, and appropriate interventions in accordance with standing protocols and orders while in transit, at referring and receiving facilities and documents accurately on all transport documentation according to department guidelines and roles models this to other team members.

o Demonstrates expertise in respiratory practice and critically evaluates own decision-making and judgments.

o Serves as an expert with ability to care for all types of neonatal and pediatric patients (and adults with pediatric diagnosis / medical history), at an expert level, in the mobile environment (ground / rotor / fixed wing).

Assuring safety and quality of care

o Wears appropriate uniform and boots according to policy and role models to peers.

o Obtains appropriate transport consents including but not limited to consent for treatment and transfer and privacy consent and ensures understanding of information to guardian prior to obtaining consents.

o Completes independent verification during interfacility transfer for the RN on required medications (acting as RN's wingman)

o Takes a leadership role in achieving unit compliance with Transport Program accreditation for CAMTS and actively participates in the Quality and Safety plan of department.

o Consistently utilizes risk assessment / reduction strategies and role models this behavior to coworkers to include but not limited to : fatigue management assessment, ground risk assessment, post transport debriefs and predeparture checklist and reports identified risk to the leadership on a real time basis.

o Communicates information about the patient's "working diagnosis, plan of management, and prognosis to the referring physician, guardian, and other management of the health care team and provides a concise and through hand-over and transfers care of patient to the receiving hospital staff.

o Assure medications and supplies are stocked according to guidelines and are not expired and role models this behavior to coworkers.

o Administers all inhalation medications as prescribed by TMCP (standing orders / protocols) and according to policy and procedure.

o Implements strategies to reduce patient and crew risk and increase safety in the transport environment including but not limited to the use of securement devices, securing equipment, and the use of lights and sirens

Operation of transport equipment / vehicle procedures

o Demonstrates expert knowledge and operation of all transport equipment within scope and is able to troubleshoot issue on a real-time basis in order to provide the safest care for the patients.

o Maintains all transport equipment in a state of readiness by checking all equipment, per departmental guidelines, at the beginning of each shift and prn.

Special attention to detail needs to be made noting any discrepancies and troubleshoots as needed. Role models this behavior to ensure compliance with others on the team to maintain a culture of safety.

o Participates in the ongoing evaluation of transport equipment needs and provides detailed feedback to ensure evaluation was completed in a comprehensive manner.

o Reports and documents transport equipment malfunctions / errors to biomedical engineering, transport leadership and in appropriate patient safety event reporting.

o Demonstrates knowledge of ground, rotor and fixed wing aircraft operating procedures and safety practices.

Transport Team Communication Center

o Facilities and contacts consultants as directed by TMCP.

o Ensures appropriate documentation of transport request is completed with accuracy.

o Coordinates initial transport request information from the referring facility unit clerk and begin request in Central Logic.

o Maintains appropriate contact with the transport team at required times to ensure team's where abouts and ongoing safety of transport team and maintains information on a guardian / designee ride along and logs emergency contact information

o Keeps up dated information on current weather conditions in and around transport service area and notifies transport leadership of any current weather threats.

o Coordinates and confirms bed placement at receiving facility or alternative admission facility as appropriate.

o Coordinates appropriate mode of transport with vendor staff and contacts / communicates information to Advocate Children's Hospital Transport Team.

o Communicates ETA and status, on an ongoing basis, with both the referring facility and receiving facility

o Verifies appropriate crew information sheets on file and initiates PIAP (Post Incident Action Plan) when appropriate.

o Maintains up to date information on bed availability, physician, team coverage / status, vehicle information-availability, and contact numbers on an ongoing basis.

Professional Development / Professional accountability

o Participates in peer review of the transport team members by accurately completing post transport debriefs.

o Earns a minimum of 15 contact hours per year related to transport medicine and / or population that is served by transport program.

o Takes a proactive approach in seeking out own learning needs and experiences in order to stay up to date and current based on departmental educational plan and requirements.

o Demonstrates continued professional growth through continuing education and review of current literature pertaining to neonatal-pediatric transport as evidence by participates in at least 75% of departmental journal clubs on a yearly basis and encourages peers to actively participate.

o Takes a leadership role in the education of others at the unit, house-wide and / or system level to provide a class and / or formal education event once a year.

o Leads a transport case study once every 12 months AND / OR takes a leadership role in the education of others at the unit, site, system or at a Referring Hospital to provide a class and / or formal education event once a year.

o Actively participates in at least one unit committee and / or unit task force OR site / system committee and shares information and keeps department up to date on current committee (task force) issues.

o Serves as a preceptor in the training of future transport team members and residents / students that are completing a transport rotation (required after member has been on transport team for over 12 months)

o Participates in at least 75% of department staff meetings on an annual basis via in person or phone.

Leadership / Research / Evidence Based Practice

o Initiates, participates, and assist with the implementation of change to transport policies, practices, procedures to enhance the quality of care that is delivered.

o Identifies and / or participates in potential / actual research studies and / or evidence base practice projects that are related to neonatal, pediatric, and transport when identified.

o Serves as a resource or consultant to nursing, medical, and ancillary staff regarding neonatal and pediatric transport and acts as an expert in complex cases.

o Performs all required charge crew duties in a comprehensive manner, when assigned, and communicates through the proper chain of command when appropriate.

o Takes a collaborative approach in assisting with medical procedures and interfacility transports when requested and available and does this in a manner that is collegial, representing the transport department in a positive manner.

o Prepares for the safety huddle, when assigned, and communicates department information and follows up on any issues identifies according to guidelines established.

o Utilizes resources and follows chain of command for disruptive behavior that impedes the delivery of care / safety of patient and / or team and proactively addresses difficult conversations on a peer to peer basis when appropriate.

RCP / Patient Relationships : Develops and maintains a therapeutic relationship throughout the healthcare continuum

o Anticipates and meets patient and family needs throughout the transport encounter that foster a positive environment for the patient and family.

o Creates climate of valuing non-judgmental and individualized, holistic care. Facilitates the development of others in providing such care.

Licensure :

Respiratory Care Practitioner

Education / Experience Required :

• At least 3 years of respiratory experience (or 4000 hours as equivalent) with a focus on Critical care (peds and / or neonatal preferred)
• RRT required
• NPS required within 6 months of hire
• Interfacility transport experience preferred.
• Earn 15 continuing education credits annually related to transport medicine or neonatal / pediatric critical or emergency care.

Knowledge, Skills & Abilities Required :

• Demonstrate strong written and verbal communication
• Strong computer skills and typing skills. *Ability to utilize mobile devices such as tablets and smart phones while in the mobile environment as approved by program.
• Ability to document and read while in the mobile environment. *Strong ability to function independently. *Demonstrate excellent interpersonal and communication skills *Good crisis management skills with ability to negotiate, defuse stressful situations, and safely improvise as needed.
• Possession of personality traits that ensure a high level of performance in the variable and sometimes unpredictable transport environment.
• Demonstrate leadership, flexibility, independence, initiative, intelligence, inquisitiveness, and ability to solve problems and exercise good clinical judgment.
• Excellent oral and written communication and customer services skills.
• Excellent time management and organizational skills
• Dependability in regard to attendance of work, team meetings, and committee meetings.
• Familiarity with patient care equipment
• Current Illinois RCP license Current BLS Current PALS certification or obtained and maintained within 6 months of hire / transfer *Wiliness to obtain RT licenses in other states as directed by Transport Leadership.
• C-NPT (Certified Neonatal Pediatric Transport) certification preferred; must complete within 2 years of hire / transfer

Physical Requirements and Working Conditions :

• Must passes the FIT test with ability to wear an N-95 mask
• Must passes the pre-employment physical and ongoing physical exams as required by program.
• Ability to transport in all modes of transport (ground, rotor and fixed wing)
• Ability to wear securement devices in all modes of transport.
• Ability to work weekends, holidays, and different shifts in order to accommodate staffing / dept needs
• Take call as directed by the leadership team
• Indoor and outdoor environment with possible exposure to infectious, biological, and chemical agents. Occasionally requires working in proximity to sources of radiation.

Work area includes riding in enclosed spaces such as ambulances, helicopter, and planes / jets. Work environment commonly provides exposure to high noise levels, vibrations, and rough movements.

• Ability to respond quickly to patient needs and work at fast pace to meet needs of patient.
• Ability to assist in evacuation of patients / family / crew in the event of a fire or other disaster in the vehicle or hospital setting.
• Frequently requires sitting / standing and walking for long periods. Requires bending, crouching, and kneeling. Requires use of hands, keyboarding, fine motor skills, and frequent lifting of 50 pounds, occasional moving of heavier weights and frequent pushing / pulling of 250 pounds.
• Must be able to work in small, confined spaces and be able to work in a mobile environment, with on the ground / air. *There is a potential for regular exposure to patient with infectious disease requiring observance of appropriate precautions.

This job description indicates the general nature and level of work expected of the incumbent. It is not designed to cover or contain a comprehensive listing of activities, duties or responsibilities required of the incumbent.

Incumbent may be required to perform other related duties.