Summary The Registered Respiratory Therapist (Home Oxygen Coordinator) position is located in Medicine Services at Raymond G. Murphy VA Medical Center, Albuquerque, NM. This position provides support to Chief Respiratory Therapy. The incumbent serves as a liaison to maintain a highly functional home oxygen program that meets all VHA and regulatory standards of quality and safety. Responsibilities Duties include but are not limited to: Plans work, both clinical and administrative, and the priority of these operations is to accomplish goals in the home oxygen program. Makes recommendations for changes in the organization of work within allowable costs and established policies to enhance the efficiency of care. Autonomously recognizes the needs of staff respiratory therapists and recommends plans for guidance staff to meet operational needs within the home oxygen program. Manages and coordinates all aspects of the home oxygen program across all geographic sites within the NMVAHCS program to accomplish work to meet program goals, objectives, and broad priorities established by higher levels of management. Provides supporting clinical information necessary for the prescribing provider to complete the order. Ensures patients are educated on the use of home oxygen by clinical staff or contracted vendors, including risks involved, harm reduction measures, and other responsibilities associated with receiving oxygen equipment. Follows up with new patients within 3 months to ensure the patient still meets the criteria for home oxygen therapy, including adherence to clinical and safety practice. Reports all adverse events while oxygen is in use and documents the events in the electronic health record. Reports incidents that occur in the outpatient sector for patients on home oxygen therapy to the VA medical facility Director and VA medical facility Patient Safety Manager (or facility equivalent) and complies with relevant Patient Safety Alerts. Monitors the home oxygen program to ensure patients are provided timely and effective care as prescribed and communicates concerns associated with the delivery of home oxygen to the prescribing provider. This includes performing Quality Assurance activities, such as but not limited to ensuring that the home care plan provided by the home oxygen vendor is consistent with the VA prescription. Coordinates with VA prosthetics, other respiratory therapists, outside contract vendors, and other providers to maintain a functional home oxygen program. Conducts, within established policy and procedures, all manners of respiratory-related procedures, including, but not limited to, oximetry testing at rest and with exertion, oxygen titration at rest and with exertion, arterial blood gases, and overnight oximetry. Explains work requirements relative to respiratory care for new requirements or changes, as well as existing progress. Resolves technical work problems not covered by precedents or established policies for non-routine or complex procedures in-home oxygen program and updates higher-level management of issues. Develops and updates guidelines and policies for all aspects of the home oxygen program. Performs all other duties as assigned. Work Schedule: Monday- Friday 8:00am -4:30 pm Or as determined by supervisor. Functional Statement #:00000 Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized Requirements Conditions of Employment You must be a U.S. Citizen to apply for this job. All applicants tentatively selected for VA employment in a testing designated position are subject to urinalysis to screen for illegal drug use prior to appointment. Applicants who refuse to be tested will be denied employment with VA. Selective Service Registration is required for males born after 12/31/1959. Must be proficient in written and spoken English. Subject to background/security investigation. Selected applicants will be required to complete an online onboarding process. Acceptable form(s) of identification will be required to complete pre-employment requirements (https://www.uscis.gov/i-9-central/form-i-9-acceptable-documents). Effective May 7, 2025, driver's licenses or state-issued identification cards that are not REAL ID compliant cannot be utilized as an acceptable form of identification for employment. Must pass pre-employment physical examination. Participation in the seasonal influenza vaccination program is a requirement for all Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care Personnel (HCP). Complete all application requirements detailed in the "Required Documents" section of this announcement. As a condition of employment for accepting this position, you will be required to serve a 1 or 2-year trial period during which we will evaluate your fitness and whether your continued employment advances the public interest. In determining if your employment advances the public interest, we may consider: your performance and conduct; the needs and interests of the agency; whether your continued employment would advance organizational goals of the agency or the Government; and whether your continued employment would advance the efficiency of the Federal service. Upon completion of your trial period, your employment will be terminated unless you receive certification, in writing, that your continued employment advances the public interest. Qualifications 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: United States Citizenship: Non-citizens may only be appointed when it is not possible to recruit qualified citizens in accordance with VA Policy. 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). GS-12 Grade Determinations: Experience, Education, Licensure and Certification: Candidate must: Have one year of creditable experience equivalent to the GS-11 grade level demonstrating the clinical competencies described at that level. Hold an active license and RRT credential. Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs: Ability to develop policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures. Ability to implement policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures. Ability to maintain policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures. Ability to make recommendations regarding new and emerging procedures. Ability to perform complex analytical studies of patient care. Ability to interpret results to coordinate the management and evaluation of patient care. Ability to coordinate the work of subordinate staff. Ability to manage all aspects of a complex patient care program including day-to-day operation, training program resources and fiscal management. Assignment. 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. This assignment is designated as an RRT Program Coordinator, who oversees the administrative and clinical aspects of a major specialty program at complexity level 1 and 2 facilities only. Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/. The full performance level of this vacancy is GS-12. Physical Requirements: Lifting of items of 45 pounds and over can be expected; reaching above shoulder; walking and standing for extended periods of time for up to 8 hours. Education IMPORTANT: A transcript must be submitted with your application if you are basing all or part of your qualifications on education. Note: Only education or degrees recognized by the U.S. Department of Education from accredited colleges, universities, schools, or institutions may be used to qualify for Federal employment. You can verify your education here: http://ope.ed.gov/accreditation/. If you are using foreign education to meet qualification requirements, you must send a Certificate of Foreign Equivalency with your transcript in order to receive credit for that education. For further information, visit: https://sites.ed.gov/international/recognition-of-foreign-qualifications/. Additional Information During the application process you may have an option to opt-in to make your resume available to hiring managers in the agency who have similar positions. Opting in does not impact your application for this announcement, nor does it guarantee further consideration for additional positions. This job opportunity announcement may be used to fill additional vacancies. This position is in the Excepted Service and does not confer competitive status. Under the Fair Chance to Compete Act, the Department of Veterans Affairs prohibits requesting an applicant's criminal history prior to accepting a tentative job offer. For more information about the Act and the complaint process, visit Human Resources and Administration/Operations, Security, and Preparedness (HRA/OSP) at The Fair Chance Act.
