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PROFILE
The Department of Respiratory Care at Massachusetts
General Hospital is a world renowned leader in the field of Respiratory
Care. Since its inception over 30 years ago this department has continually
set the standard for excellence in the profession. Today, the pursuit
of this mission is maintained as the department continues to provide the
highest quality healthcare while supporting and participating research
and education.
UNIT FOCUS
The Department of Respiratory Care, a division
of Patient Care Services, provides inpatient services to a variety of
patients 24 hours per day, seven days per week. In addition to providing
care, respiratory therapists serve as consultants to nurses, physicians,
and other members of the healthcare team. Through research based practice
and a commitment to continuing education, the department has remained
in the forefront of the profession and continues to set the standards
for excellence that are recognized worldwide.
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The Department of Respiratory Care provides services to the full
range of patients from neonate to geriatric, with an emphasis on
acute and critical care. Services provided include care of the critically
ill patient including adult ventilation, pediatric ventilation and
neonatal ventilation. The department also provides nitric oxide
administration to both intubated and non-intubated patients. Heliox
therapy is used for patients with various types of airway obstruction,
and high frequency ventilation is provided for adults, pediatric
and neonates.
Respiratory therapists at Massachusetts General Hospital participate
in the management of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for patients with
carbon monoxide inhalation, problem wounds and other ailments and
noninvasive positive pressure ventilation is provided for over one
thousand patients per year. Other services include asthma education,
bronchoscopy assistance, and aerosolized antibiotic administration.
In the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units respiratory therapists
manage extra-corporeal life support, surfactant delivery, and high-risk
transport of pediatric and neonatal patients.
Link to: Respiratory
Care Policies
Link to: Clinical
Recognition Program
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STAFF ORIENTATION
All newly hired therapists will complete
a 12-week orientation, consisting of a combination of clinical and
classroom time. After completion of the one and one-half day hospital
orientation program, new employees meet with the respiratory care
office manager. She will assign the new employee a locker and issue
three sets of scrubs. Miscellaneous paperwork, such as payroll,
benefits and computer logon forms will be completed during this
time.
Respiratory therapists at MGH are looked upon as consultants by. As
such, physicians, nurses and other members of the health care team
value their input and recommendations in managing the ventilator as
well as all other aspects of respiratory care. To foster this type
of professional environment, a series of lectures and workshops will
be scheduled for all new therapists. This part of orientation is presented
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covers important concepts and required clinical competencies necessary
to meet the challenges and expectations of respiratory care. Workshop
time is a hands-on approach that is intended to help the orientee
become proficient in the use of specific types of ventilators and
other equipment used at MGH. This element of the orientation program
includes a class schedule, specific reading material, lecture, study
guides and competency exams.
During the clinical portion of orientation, orientees are scheduled
to rotate through all ICU's and floor areas of the hospital. Approximately
2 weeks will be spent in one ICU, usually the Surgical ICU or Medical
ICU, with a preceptor who is a primary therapist in that area. The
preceptor will be a resource for the new therapist. The goal of
this part of orientation is to gain understanding of practical applications
of department-wide issues, such as, ventilator management strategies
or bronchoscopy assistance. When the new staff member completes
orientation, he or she will generally be assigned to work in this
area for a period of time, in order to gain expertise in that area.
During the remainder of orientation, the new staff member will spend
1-3 shifts in each of the other ICU's and general floor areas, again
guided by a preceptor.
The orientee will receive a workbook that
is designed to track progress through orientation and contains check
off sheets for each ICU or floor. Unit specific issues are listed
on these check off sheets. This workbook is an invaluable tool that
allows the new employee to continuously monitor his/her progress
and develop a fuller understanding of the orientation process. In
so doing, he/she is able to anticipate many aspects of the program
resulting in more pleasant and successful experience. To inquire
about positions available in this department, contact Sanchita SenGupta
at ssengupta@partners.org.
Link to: MGH
Jobs Home Page
RESPIRATORY CARE LINKS
The following links are currently available
for your convenience:
Advance for Respiratory Care Practitioners:
http://www.advanceforrcp.com
American Association of Respiratory Care
(AARC): http://www.aarc.org
American Heart Association:
http://www.americanheart.org
American Society for Critical Care Medicine:
http://www.sccm.org/
American Thoracic Society: http://www.thoracic.org
FOCUS on Respiratory Care: http://www.foocus.com
Massachusetts Society for Respiratory Care MSRC): http://www.msrcol.org
National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC):
http://www.nbrc.org
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