Staff - Respiratory Therapist

Advocate Aurora Health is seeking a Respiratory Therapist for a job in Elmhurst, Illinois.

Job Description & Requirements

• Specialty : Respiratory Therapist
• Discipline : Allied Health Professional
• Duration : Ongoing
• 36 hours per week
• Shift : nights
• Employment Type : Staff

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 iss