Career Center

The position is Chief Therapist, Respiratory Care Section. The incumbent provides professional, technical, and administrative supervision to personnel. In this capacity, is responsible for assuring that services of these functional units are rendered appropriately to a general medical and surgical medical center, including critical care units, extended care unit, and outpatient facilities including ambulatory care clinics, as determined by the services needed. Applicants pending the completion of educational or certification/licensure requirements may be referred and tentatively selected but may not be hired until all requirements are met. Basic Requirements: Citizenship. Citizen of the United States (U.S.). Non-citizens may be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with chapter 3, section A, paragraph 3g, of this part. See 38 U.S.C. § 7407(a) for more information. Education. Individuals must have successfully completed a respiratory care program accredited by the CoARC or its successor. Licensure. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a full, current and unrestricted license from a state to practice as an RRT. Credential. Persons appointed or reassigned to RRT positions in the GS-0601 series must possess and maintain for the duration of employment a valid, current, unrestricted credential of RRT. May qualify based on being covered by the Grandfathering Provision as described in the VA Qualification Standard for this occupation (only applicable to current VHA employees who are in this occupation and meet the criteria). Grade Determinations: Supervisory Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-14. (a) Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates must: i. Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-13 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess certification in one or more functional specialties such as critical care, pulmonary, education and sleep medicine. ii. Hold an active license and RRT credential. (b) Education. It is highly desirable that the candidate possess a Bachelor of Science degree from a nationally accredited college or university in respiratory care; cardiopulmonary science; or a health-related field. (c) Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities. In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: i. Skill in implementing patient care and operations change by recognizing opportunities for improvement and analyzing data. ii. Skill in the development and implementation of appropriate standards of care for respiratory care. iii. Ability establish a completely integrated program that emulates "best practice" and follows national policies. iv. Ability to supervise employees. v. Ability to forecast resource needs to manage fiscal matters. (d) Assignments. For all assignments above the full performance level, the higher-level duties must consist of significant scope, complexity and range of variety and must be performed by the incumbent at least 25% of the time. RRTs at this grade in this assignment are designated as Chiefs. They manage complexity level 1 and 2 respiratory care department. They manage all administrative and clinical aspects of the organizational unit. The organizational unit may be located at one facility or multiple divisions of a facility. Decisions are made exercising wide latitude and independent judgment. They have broad and overall responsibility for the service-level department and full responsibility for clinical practice, program management, education, human resources management, budget management and supervision for employees whose work involves providing high acuity care. They provide leadership with objective, independent assessments and recommendations for policy, operational and administrative issues and initiatives requiring decision and action. They plan, assess and evaluate programs to ensure coordination between care delivered by the program and overall delivery of health care within the facility. Supervisory RRTs initiate and conduct audits and analyze a wide variety of data related to program planning and the specialized needs of the Veteran, the service and the medical center. They advise leadership on policy implications, key issues, relationships to both internal and external interest groups and recommend courses of action. They maintain interdepartmental relations with other services to accomplish medical center goals. They coordinate and negotiate resolutions to complex problems and report progress and resolution of problems in achieving goals and objectives to higher levels of management. They prepare special reports and responses, Congressional responses, briefing papers, issue briefs and decision papers for the medical center leadership, VISN or central office, which may be highly sensitive, confidential and of a complex nature. They develop policies, procedures and protocols, performance and quality standards, position descriptions and functional statements. They represent the department at interdisciplinary meetings and on facility level committees. They represent the facility to VISN-level leadership. References: VA Handbook 5005/141 PART II APPENDIX G11 The full performance level of this vacancy is GS 14. The actual grade at which an applicant may be selected for this vacancy is GS 14. Physical Requirements: See VA Directive and Handbook 5019, Employee Occupational Health Service for requirements. ["Duties are, but not limited to: CLINICAL: Provides supervision and technical support in all modalities of respiratory care including mechanical ventilation management and high-tech monitoring in the MICU, SICU, and Recovery Room. Delivers all forms of Respiratory Care as needed, due to staffing shortages and/or significant workload increases. ADMINISTRATION: Plans work schedules and the sequence of operations to always ensure adequate work coverage. Sets performance standards. Conducts formal evaluation of employee performance. Responsible for actions to recognize outstanding performance or other merit promotions. Conducts staff meetings with employees to update them on changes in hospital policy, management goals and performance improvement processes. Responsible for EEOC activities within the department. Maintains all necessary standards of practice to meet JCAHO and CAP accreditation. Recommends and implements changes in organization or work assignments to improve work, services, and job satisfaction. Identifies continuing medical education and training needs. Participates in in service respiratory teaching and training, maintaining a close relationship with other clinical disciplines. Formulates training and education plans for subordinates and arranges for appropriate training courses. Interviews candidates for subordinate positions in the sections. Makes recommendations for appointment, advancement, and when appropriate, disciplinary action. Recommends and justifies to higher authority changes with significant budgetary impact. Develops and reports to higher level supervisors' changes in budgetary requirements based on anticipated workloads and productivity capability of the section. Prepares formal requests for filling vacancies or additional personnel to meet work requirements. Analyzes work requirements, determining staff and resources needed to accomplish work. Assigns and explains work requirements relative to respiratory care for new requirements or changes, as well as existing programs. Resolves technical work problems not covered by precedents or established policies for non- routine or complex procedures. Studies continuing problems on the quality and quantity of work and operating effectiveness and takes or recommends needed actions. Develops and updates guidelines and policies for non-routine or complex assignments. Work Schedule: Monday through Friday from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm Telework: Some telework ability as allowed by the service. Virtual: This is not a virtual position. Functional Statement #: 000000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not authorized Financial Disclosure Report: Not required"]

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