The Respiratory Therapist within the Adult Respiratory Care Department assesses the care needs of patients for whom respiratory care services are requested. They initiate and perform both basic and advanced respiratory care in the management of acutely ill patients and have high participation level in the care of the critically ill as well. As part of the healthcare inpatient team, Respiratory Therapists work closely with providers, nurses and other hospital staff in delivery patient services and assuring safety.

Michigan Medicine improves the health of patients, populations and communities through excellence in education, patient care, community service, research and technology development, and through leadership activities in Michigan, nationally and internationally.  Our mission is guided by our Strategic Principles and has three critical components; patient care, education and research that together enhance our contribution to society.

Michigan Medicine is one of the largest health care complexes in the world and has been the site of many groundbreaking medical and technological advancements since the opening of the U-M Medical School in 1850. Michigan Medicine is comprised of over 30,000 employees and our vision is to attract, inspire, and develop outstanding people in medicine, sciences, and healthcare to become one of the world’s most distinguished academic health systems.  In some way, great or small, every person here helps to advance this world-class institution. Work at Michigan Medicine and become a victor for the greater good.

What Benefits can you Look Forward to?

• Excellent medical, dental and vision coverage effective on your very first day
• 2:1 Match on retirement savings

Job duties include but at not limited to:

• Completes training and demonstrates proficiency in all competencies, age-specific or otherwise, that are required of practitioners who are delivering patient services.
• Initiates, maintains and weans patients from continuous mechanical ventilatory support devices which includes discussions with providers for making appropriate ventilator changes based on patient condition and protocols.
• Commits and maintains patients to BiPAP/CPAP therapy.
• Evaluates the need for therapy in general and intensive care patients, and pursues changes to improve care which includes participating in rounds with the primary physician services of the patients they are assigned, and transcribes verbal orders from privileged providers in the patient?s medical record.
• Instructs and precepts respiratory care technicians, students, medical and nursing staff in respiratory care techniques and assists in the mentorship of new employees if so designated.
• Initiates and interprets other complex respiratory care procedures, such as, hemodynamic monitoring non-invasive positive pressure ventilation, arterial punctures, bronchoscopy, analysis of blood gases and electrolytes, patient education and others as designated.
• Is responsible for learning new technical devices and clinical procedures and accurately charting patient care per policy in the electronic health record.
• Actively participates in patient hand-off report to fellow staff and department leadership and attends/participates in case presentations, shift and general staff meetings when necessary.
• Actively participates as a member of hospital cardiac arrest and Rapid Response Teams.
• Performs other job related duties within the Departments scope of practice as assigned. These include such things as QA, data collection and other chart review functions.

• A Bachelor's or Master's degree in respiratory care, science, education or other related field of study.
• One or more years of experience in a university/academic based medical center in a critical care setting.
• Exhibits sound skills in the use of Word, Excel and other software tools with the ability to understand research methodology, mathematical solutions and statistical relationships.
• Evidence of embracing being a lifelong learner as related to continuing professional development.

Current license in respiratory therapy bythe state of Michigan is necessary.This classification requires Primary Source Verification

Positions that are eligible for hybrid or mobile/remote work mode are at the discretion of the hiring department. Work agreements are reviewed annually at a minimum and are subject to change at any time, and for any reason, throughout the course of employment. Learn more about the work modes.

This position may be underfilled at a lower classification depending on the qualifications of the selected candidate.

This position involves considerable physical and mental effort in job duties, ie, assisting patients, moving equipment, bending, reaching, long periods of standing/walking, keyboarding, and providing emotional support to patients and families. There is frequent use and exposure to disinfectant agents and hand cleaners in all healthcare settings. Having high involvement with acute and critically ill patients, the position may be prone to fatigue and infrequent opportunities for relaxation. It also involves working in a potentially hazardous environment of infectious diseases, high-pressure medical gases and other related conditions.

This position is included in the bargaining unit represented by the Service Employees International Union - Healthcare Michigan (SEIU), which represents bargaining unit members in all matters with respect to wages, benefits, hours, and other terms and conditions of employment. 

Michigan Medicine conducts background screening and pre-employment drug testing on job candidates upon acceptance of a contingent job offer and may use a third party administrator to conduct background screenings.  Background screenings are performed in compliance with the Fair Credit Report Act. Pre-employment drug testing applies to all selected candidates, including new or additional faculty and staff appointments, as well as transfers from other U-M campuses.

Job openings are posted for a minimum of seven calendar days. This job may be removed from posting boards and filled anytime after the minimum posting period has ended.

The University of Michigan is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer.