Purpose:

The Respiratory Care Assistant will have the opportunity to learn and work with equipment and machinery. It will build your foundation and familiarize your skills that you will later need to work as a Respiratory Therapist. This opportunity also allows you to gain knowledge about the department and get invaluable exposure in the respiratory field. Under the general direction of the therapist IV, the respiratory care assistant will perform some patient care related functions and a variety of equipment related functions. Some of these functions include ordering, inventorying, and distribution of equipment to include medical gases. In addition, this position will perform some cleaning and disinfection functions related to Respiratory Care.

Responsibilities:

• May assist the bio-medical technician in tracking and/or repair of respiratory care equipment.

• May clean, disinfect and/or sterilize respiratory equipment.

• May disassemble and prepare respiratory equipment for cleaning, disinfection and/or sterilization.

• Is responsible for assuring and maintaining the sterility of select equipment through following departmental policies regarding cleaning and processing of soiled equipment.

• Maintain proficiency in the basic use of the hospital's computer system.

• On a routine and recurring basis, will explain related tasks to other employees and therapist/technician students.

• Is responsible for all identification, cataloging and tracking of all respiratory care equipment.

• At times, will assist the therapist during cardio-pulmonary resuscitation and other emergent, and routine procedures.

• Responsible for maintaining adequate inventory and stocking of general store supplies and medications used by the department of Respiratory Care.

• Provides oxygen to be used during transportation of patients.

• Replace all respiratory care equipment used throughout the hospital on an as needed basis.

• Assemble, distribute and stock respiratory care supplies throughout the hospital.

• Replace oxygen and other compressed gas cylinders used for respiratory care for children, teenagers, adults and geriatric patients.

• Exhibit and practice service excellence by actively seeking, listening, responding to the needs of patients, their family, physicians, staff and others.

High school diploma or currently enrolled in respiratory therapist program. Must be able to lift equipment and or supplies weighing up to 30 pounds and push/handle equipment weighing up to 100 pounds.Access to medications is limited to the distribution of the medication to the Respiratory Therapist.

Licensure, Certifications, and Clearances:

UPMC is an Equal Opportunity Employer/Disability/Veteran