Respiratory Therapist

When you join the growing BILH team, you're not just taking a job, you’re making a difference in people’s lives.

Job Description:

The Respiratory Therapist (RT) in Pulmonary Rehabilitation provides comprehensive respiratory care and exercise-based rehabilitation to patients with chronic pulmonary and cardiopulmonary conditions. The RT works as part of a multidisciplinary team to improve patients’ exercise tolerance, functional capacity, symptom management, self-management skills, and overall quality of life.

Key Responsibilities

• Perform comprehensive respiratory assessments, including evaluation of respiratory symptoms, oxygen requirements, exercise tolerance, and functional status.
• Conduct and monitor pulmonary rehabilitation exercise sessions, including aerobic and strength-training activities.
• Monitor patients’ heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, oxygen saturation, and symptoms before, during, and after exercise.
• Administer and monitor supplemental oxygen during exercise according to prescribed protocols.
• Recognize signs of respiratory distress, hypoxemia, cardiac abnormalities, or other changes in patient condition and respond appropriately.
• Educate patients and families regarding disease management, medications, inhaler and nebulizer techniques, oxygen therapy, breathing exercises, airway clearance, energy conservation, and lifestyle modification.
• Teach breathing techniques such as diaphragmatic and pursed-lip breathing.
• Assist patients in developing individualized exercise and self-management plans based on clinical assessment and physician recommendations.
• Perform and/or assist with pulmonary function testing, six-minute walk tests, and other functional assessments as applicable.
• Document patient assessments, treatment sessions, progress, and clinical outcomes accurately and in a timely manner.
• Collaborate with pulmonologists, nurses, physical therapists, exercise physiologists, and other members of the healthcare team.
• Maintain patient safety throughout rehabilitation sessions and follow emergency and infection-control procedures.
• Participate in quality-improvement activities and maintain compliance with applicable clinical, regulatory, and departmental standards.
• Provide smoking-cessation education and reinforce healthy lifestyle practices when appropriate.
• Maintain knowledge of current respiratory care practices, pulmonary rehabilitation guidelines, and evidence-based treatment approaches.

Qualifications

• Associate’s or Bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Therapy from an accredited program.
• Current Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) credential preferred/required, depending on employer and state requirements.
• Current state respiratory care license.
• Current BLS certification; ACLS may be required depending on the clinical setting.
• Previous experience in pulmonary rehabilitation, acute care, outpatient respiratory care, or chronic pulmonary disease management preferred.
• Strong communication, patient-education, assessment, and clinical judgment skills.

Pay Range:

The pay range listed for this position is the base hourly wage range the organization reasonably and in good faith expects to pay for this position at this time. Actual compensation is determined based on several factors, that may include seniority, education, training, relevant experience, relevant certifications, geography of work location, job responsibilities, or other applicable factors permissible by law.  Compensation may exceed the base hourly rate depending on shift differentials, call pay, premium pay, overtime pay, and other additional pay practices, as applicable to the position and in accordance with the law.

As a health care organization, we have a responsibility to do everything in our power to care for and protect our patients, our colleagues and our communities. Beth Israel Lahey Health requires that all staff be vaccinated against influenza (flu) as a condition of employment.

More than 35,000 people working together. Nurses, doctors, technicians, therapists, researchers, teachers and more, making a difference in patients' lives. Your skill and compassion can make us even stronger.

Equal Opportunity Employer/Veterans/Disabled