Welcome to Saint Joseph Hospital, a 433-bed hospital founded in 1877 by the Sisters of Charity of Nazareth as the first hospital in Lexington, Kentucky. Led by Sister Euphrasia Stafford, the mission to provide compassionate care to the underserved is still carried out today. Saint Joseph Hospital holds over two dozen national ranks and recognitions and is recognized as a 2024 Best Place to Work in Kentucky. 

Saint Joseph is part of CommonSpirit Health, a non-profit, Catholic health system dedicated to advancing health for all people. With approximately 175,000 employees and 25,000 physicians and advanced practice clinicians. 

Our commitment to serve the common good is delivered through the dedicated work of thousands of physicians, advanced practice clinicians, nurses, and staff; through clinical excellence delivered across a system of 140 hospitals and more than 2,200 care centers serving 24 states. 

Job Summary / Purpose

This position contributes to the mission and vision of CHI St Joseph Health by providing direct respiratory care in all patient care areas including general floors, critical care, and emergency room.  Assess need, evaluate effectiveness of therapy and recommends changes in specific modes of therapy to the physician.

Essential Key Job Responsibilities

1. Performs basic respiratory care and develops plans for the delivery of Respiratory Therapy as directed by physicians or protocols and implements in a timely manner.  Promotes a positive quality work environment in the provision of quality patient care.
2. In accordance with established policies, administers and monitors critical care procedures such as mechanical ventilation, physiological monitoring, and diagnostic procedures.
3. Performs assessment of the patient, determining needs related to therapy modality, frequency, and duration of the treatment regime ordered by the MD based on patient’s age, cognitive and physician abilities, and/or developmental needs.  Is responsible for the communication to the physician of pertinent patient evaluation data.  Makes recommendations for changes in specific modes of therapy.
4. Authorized to make entries in the medical record, consistent with and limited to the scope of the job duties and any applicable licensure.  Observes the response of the patients to therapy, evaluated and records in the patient’s medical record.  Immediately reports adverse reactions.
5. Provides instruction to patients, family, staff, and students about theory, therapy, and equipment used in Respiratory Therapy procedures and techniques, and documents such as required.  Provides instruction and referral for Home Care patients and their families/care givers using language and materials appropriate for age, cognitive, and physical abilities, and/or developmental needs.
6. Assumes charge person responsibilities in the supervisor’s absence.  Assigns work load, based on staff’s level of competency.
7. Participates in quality assurance.  Provides educational support for staff and clients.  Coordinates continuing education programs for staff.  Effectively communicates to supervisor/patients/other staff pertinent patient information.  Serves as a resource person for their staff members.  
8. Demonstrates competence and provides for the cleaning, sterilization, assembly and maintenance of equipment and stocking of supplies in the department and the floors, as necessary and appropriate.
9. Provides a complete hand-off report to on-coming personnel and takes a complete report from off-going personnel.  Communicates a professional attitude with patient’s visitors and other hospital personnel while assuring confidentiality of patient and other hospital information.  Must have the ability to work effectively and collaboratively in a diverse and multicultural environment.
10. Performs other duties as may be assigned by management.
11. May performs other advanced diagnostic procedures for which they have had appropriate training.  This may include:  Advanced Bronchoscopy procedures, Neurodiagnostic Procedures including EEG and Evoked Potentials, Advanced Pulmonary Diagnostics including calorimetry and Methacholine Challenge.

The job summary and responsibilities listed above are designed to indicate the general nature of the work performed within this job. They are not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all job responsibilities required of employees assigned to this job. Employees may be required to perform other duties as assigned.