Hyperbaric Tech bei LifeCare Hospitals of North Texas

Description

General Summary: The Hyperbaric Technician is accountable for the operation of the hyperbaric chambers and provides patient care and preparation of patients who enter the hyperbaric treatment environment. The Hyperbaric Technician is actively involved in department activities, transdisciplinary team activities, and LifeCare activities to ensure individualized, patient-centered health care for all patient populations.

Patient Population: Has contact with patients in a non-clinical setting; understands and demonstrates appropriate behavior when interacting with patients in the adult (18-65 years of age) and geriatric (65 and older) populations.

Supervision: N/A

Experience: Previous wound care or hyperbaric experience preferred.

Education: High school diploma or equivalent. Completion of an accredited LPN/LVN, Respiratory Therapist, EMT, or DMT program preferred.

Licensure/Certification: Current certification as a Hyperbaric Technician (CHT) issued through the National Board for Diving and Hyperbaric Medical Technology (NBDHMT) or Certified Hyperbaric Specialist (CHS).  If not certified as a CHT or CHS at the time of hire, completion of a 40-hour introductory hyperbaric medicine course or 40-hour primary training program approved by either the American College of Hyperbaric Medicine, the Undersea and Hyperbaric Medical Society, or the US Department of Defense completed at the time of hire and eligible to take the Certified Hyperbaric Specialist exam within 2 years of employment. Current license/certification as an LPN/LVN, Respiratory Therapist, EMT, or DMT preferred. Current BLS certification is required upon hire. All Hyperbaric Technicians must maintain current licensure and BLS certifications while employed.

Standard Essential Functions

1. The knowledge and skills necessary to perform the position requirements are demonstrated through the successful completion of competencies established for the position, including the population served and other special needs of patients or customers served by the department.
2. Adheres to LifeCare policies, procedures, all safety plans, and all standards imposed by regulatory organizations.
3. Regular attendance and timeliness are required.

Job-Specific Essential Functions

1. Operates the chamber control console, hand-valve compressors, and related equipment.
2. Prepares ancillary equipment for use inside the chambers and attends to patients as directed by the Registered Nurse.
3. Maintains accurate records of treatment, tests, and other chamber-related activities, both routine and emergency.
4. Performs and maintains digital photography, performs non-invasive vascular testing, and assists with wound care as directed.
5. Coordinates regular safety inspections, equipment testing, and preventative maintenance.
6. As they are prepared for treatment, they provide patient education related to chamber safety and ear-clearing techniques.

Values

• We COLLABORATE: We develop our treatment plans in collaboration with physicians, clinicians, and patients’ families.
• We ADVOCATE: We advocate on behalf of every patient and family.
• We RESPECT: We recognize and value the dignity, rights, and resources of each patient.
• We EDUCATE: We educate our team members and families with purpose and compassion.
• We SERVE: We serve as a TEAM with integrity at all levels, focused on achieving the best possible outcomes for our patients.

Qualifications

Physical Requirements:

1. Ability to lift, move, transport, and position patients, equipment, or supplies/materials up to fifty (50) pounds without assistance; or over fifty (50) pounds with the aid of mechanical assistance or assistance of personnel.
2. Range of motion and mobility of self by positioning or moving around the hospital to include sitting, standing, walking, bending, squatting, stooping, kneeling, crawling, climbing, and reaching.
3. Ability to communicate with patients, families, physicians, co-workers, and visitors to be able to exchange accurate information regarding patient condition and health status. Ability to exchange and express information by means of language and communicate information effectively.
4. Ability to hear the nature of sounds. Ability to detect clinical alarms and conversation. Ability to give full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
5. Ability to use logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions, or approaches to problems.
6. Ability to self-monitor/self-assess performance to make improvements or take corrective action.
7. Ability to see things at close range and match and/or detect differences between colors, including color and brightness.
8. Ability to make precisely coordinated movements of the fingers of one or both hands to grasp, manipulate, or assemble small objects.
9. Ability to keep your hand steady while moving your arm or while holding your arm and hand in one position.
10. Ability to understand the implications of new information for both current and future problem-solving and decision-making. Ability to use scientific rules and methods to solve problems.
11. Ability to identify problems and review related information to develop and evaluate options and implement solutions.
12. Ability to respond to and resolve emergencies or crises calmly and professionally as a team member.
13. Ability to work independently and perform routine and detail-oriented tasks. Ability to manage one’s own time.
14. Ability to consider the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
15. Ability to collect and analyze numerical, written data, and verbal communication to reach logical conclusions, along with the ability to determine the time, place, and sequence of operations or action.
16. Ability to review, assess, record, or type data quickly and accurately.
17. Ability to observe and recognize or identify changes in the patient’s health status or condition.
18. Ability to perform mathematical equations.
19. Ability to view and operate required equipment.
20. Ability to determine resources needed to provide quality patient care.
21. Ability to make independent judgments and decisions.
22. Ability to respond or adjust a modality of therapy, as appropriate, when a deviation from routine care is required.

Environmental/Working Conditions:

1. Category 1 - Infection exposure due to required tasks which routinely involve a potential for mucous membrane or skin contact with blood, body fluid tissues, or potential spills or splashes.
2. Ability to work alone or with minimal supervision.
3. Contact with patients, families, co-workers, physicians, and visitors.
4. Ability to work under and appropriately handle stress.
5. Ability to handle multiple tasks.
6. Ability to work long hours between breaks and meals may be required.
7. Exposure to high, medium, or low noise intensity.

Machinery/Tools/Equipment Requirements: Ability to operate the nursing call system, telephone, fax machine, copy machine, computer, printer, and calculator.