Registered Respiratory Therapist

Clarification from the agency

NOTE: The 2-page Resume requirement does not apply to this position. For more information, refer to Required Documents below.

She/he will assist providers in determining which patients need supplemental oxygen for home and travel, ventilators, medication nebulizers, and other modalities of equipment appropriate for the outpatient setting. RRT Program Coordinator will provide respiratory care services, evaluations, testing, and education to adult and geriatric patients, staff, and providers throughout the healthcare system. The Outpatient Registered Respiratory Therapist
(RRT) is responsible for providing basic and advanced respiratory care.

Responsibilities will include serving as a liaison between medical providers, clinicians, patients, Prosthetics and Sensory Aids Services, and the contracted vendor to facilitate clinically effective, cost-efficient delivery of a variety of types of services to Veterans with respiratory disorders requiring ventilatory therapy, equipment and oxygen services. The RRT Program Coordinator must be an experienced, clinically competent RRT, possess program management skills, responsible for assuring proper documentation and compliance with all regulatory requirements in meeting the Home Oxygen Respiratory Care Contract.

• The HRCP Coordinator will ensure patients have the right to make informed decisions concerning their own care, maintain continuity of care provided by the vendor, ensure all patient information is treated confidentially, and that the vendor honors patient rights and informs them of their responsibilities in the care process.
• Coordinate with the vendor to establish a care plan that ensures the patient's travel oxygen needs are met throughout the duration of their travel.
• Assist with clinical oversight of the program components, including home oxygen, ventilators, nebulizers, and all other home respiratory durable medical equipment (DME). Additionally, train staff through in-services, precepting, and education.
• Provide coordination of home oxygen processes and documentation/reporting with RRTs, Registered Nurses (RNs), providers, and Health Care System (HCS) employees.
• Serve as a respiratory consultant and resource for patients and families as needs arise for tracheostomy care, suctioning, nebulizers, ventilators, equipment troubleshooting, and education.
• Ensure quarterly in-home respiratory care safety evaluations/oxygen visits are conducted to assess and confirm the quality, safety, and education provided by our contracted vendor to veterans receiving care, with special attention to high-risk patients using supplemental oxygen.
• Coordinate with the Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service and vendors to ensure appropriate equipment and services are provided to patients. Communicate with home oxygen vendors to ensure patient needs are met in compliance with contract specifications.
• Provide patients with comprehensive instructions on the use, cleaning, maintenance, and safety of home respiratory equipment.
• Oversee performance, assessment, and improvement activities related to home oxygen, ventilators, and nebulizers, including all therapeutic equipment and supplies used in the treatment of respiratory disorders at home.
• Communicate clinical competencies associated with the home oxygen program and provide feedback to the Prosthetic & Sensory Aids Service and Cardiopulmonary Chiefs for the annual assessment of the home oxygen program.
• Operate various equipment including mechanical ventilators, positive airway pressure devices, oxygen equipment, and accessories.
• Interpret and perform exercise testing and pulmonary assessments to determine the optimal dose of oxygen necessary to prevent significant arterial oxygen desaturation with exercise.
• Perform overnight oximetry studies on room air or with varying doses of oxygen.
• Oversee re-evaluations of the need for continued use of home oxygen or other respiratory therapy equipment. This includes reviewing outpatient clinic visits to document the need for oxygen therapy within one to three months after initiation and annually thereafter.
• Actively participate in the Home Respiratory Care Team, conducting regular meetings, and contributing ideas, plans, and information to enhance services. Assist in the development and revision of policies, procedures, competency and safety assessments, quality management, patient information, documentation, and other relevant areas.
• Respond to problem calls from patients or the vendor. Report formal complaints to leadership as needed and follow up with performance improvement actions.
• Perform quarterly patient home visits to observe patient knowledge, safety, and compliance with the prescription/care plan and to ensure satisfaction with the care and services provided by the VA contracted vendor.

Work Schedule: The tour of duty includes varying days and times
Compressed/Flexible:Available
Telework: Ad hoc per VA policy
Virtual: This is not a virtual position.
Functional Statement #: 436-60895-A
Relocation/Recruitment Incentives: Not Authorized
Permanent Change of Station (PCS): Not Authorized

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 Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care (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.
• 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 from the National Board of Respiratory Care.

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).

Grade Determinations: Registered Respiratory Therapist, GS-12.

Experience, Licensure and Credential. Candidates 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. The following certifications are preferred but not required:
  • Hold an active license and RRT credential. The following certifications are preferred but not required:
    • Certified Tobacco Treatment Specialist
    • Pulmonary Rehabilitation Certificate issued AARC
    • AE-C awarded by the NAECB
    • COPD Educator course offered by the AARC

Demonstrated Knowledge, Skills and Abilities: In addition to the requirements above, candidates must demonstrate all the following KSAs:

1. Ability to develop policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures.
2. Ability to implement policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures.
3. Ability to maintain policies and guidelines regarding new and emerging procedures.
4. Ability to make recommendations regarding new and emerging procedures.
5. Ability to perform complex analytical studies of patient care.
6. Ability to interpret results to coordinate the management and evaluation of patient care.
7. Ability to coordinate the work of subordinate staff.
8. Ability to manage all aspects of a complex patient care program including day-to-day operation, training program resources and fiscal management.

Preferred Experience: Home Respiratory Care Program Experience: 1 or 2 years of experience providing respiratory care services in a healthcare setting, including management of patients requiring home oxygen therapy, ventilators, nebulizers, tracheostomy care, or other respiratory durable medical equipment. Experience assessing respiratory needs, educating patients and caregivers, and coordinating respiratory care services across the continuum of care is preferred.

Program Coordination and Quality Assurance: 1 tor 2 years of experience coordinating with healthcare providers, community vendors, and interdisciplinary teams to ensure timely delivery of respiratory equipment and services, compliance with clinical and regulatory requirements, and quality assurance and program oversight activities. Experience monitoring patient outcomes, resolving equipment-related issues, and supporting program improvement initiatives is preferred.

Reference: For more information on this qualification standard, please visit https://www.va.gov/ohrm/QualificationStandards/.

The full performance level of this vacancy is 12.

Physical Requirements: The work is mostly sedentary and is performed in an outpatient clinic environment responsible for treating patients with a wide variety of medical problems. Extensive interaction with patients, staff, physicians, family members and visitors involved. Moving equipment and supplies, lifting, bending, stooping, stretching, walking, and carrying light loads is required.
This position has been evaluated as a Level 1 in accordance with the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) definition of occupational exposure to blood borne pathogens.

Level 1 Positions in this category require the performance of tasks that are exposed to blood and potentially infectious body fluid. Safety precautions, including the use of CDC Universal Precautions and the use of the principals of good body mechanics are required as well as use of PPE. The above statements are intended to describe the general nature and level of work performed by employees within this classification. It is not designed to contain or be interpreted as a comprehensive inventory of all duties, responsibilities and qualifications required of the Registered Respiratory Therapist

How you will be evaluated

You will be evaluated for this job based on how well you meet the qualifications above.

IN DESCRIBING YOUR EXPERIENCE, PLEASE BE CLEAR AND SPECIFIC. WE MAY NOT MAKE ASSUMPTIONS REGARDING YOUR EXPERIENCE. Your application, resume, C.V., and/or supporting documentation will be verified. Please follow all instructions carefully. Errors or omissions may affect consideration for employment.

Experience refers to paid and unpaid experience, including volunteer work done through National Service programs (e.g., Peace Corps, AmeriCorps) and other organizations (e.g., professional; philanthropic; religions; spiritual; community; student; social). Volunteer work helps build critical competencies, knowledge, and skills and can provide valuable training and experience that translates directly to paid employment. You will receive credit for all qualifying experience, including volunteer experience.

The Department of Veterans Affairs performs pre-employment reference checks as an assessment method used in the hiring process to verify information provided by a candidate (e.g., on resume or during interview or hiring process); gain additional knowledge regarding a candidate's abilities; and assist a hiring manager with making a final selection for a position.

It is the policy of the VA to not deny employment to those that have faced financial hardships or periods of unemployment.

Veterans and Transitioning Service Members: Please visit the VA for Vets site for career-search tools for Veterans seeking employment at VA, career development services for our existing Veterans, and coaching and reintegration support for military service members.

To apply for this position, you must provide a complete Application Package which includes:

• License
• Resume
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Special Note for Applications: To complete your application, please use the following link https://vacareers.va.gov/wp-content/uploads/sites/5/Resume.docx to download the standard Clinical Resume Document. This one-page document does not need to be modified and must be uploaded into the two-page restricted 'Resume' document upload field.

Your full resume/CV may be uploaded without page limitation into the 'Other' document upload field.



The following documents are accepted, and may be required if applicable to your eligibility and/or qualifications for this position. Please ensure you have included all documents required for your application, such as a copy of your transcript (if using education to qualify), SF-50's (current/former Federal employees), etc.

• Cover Letter
• DD-214/ Statement of Service
• Disability Letter (Schedule A)
• Disability Letter (VA)
• License
• Other (1)
• PCS Orders
• Performance Appraisal
• Professional Certification
• Resume
• Separation Notice (RIF)
• SF-15
• SF-50/ Notification of Personnel Action
• Transcript

Veterans' Preference: When applying for Federal Jobs, eligible Veterans should claim preference for 5pt (TP), 10pt (CP/CPS/XP), or for Sole Survivor Preference (SSP) in the questionnaire. You must provide a legible copy of your DD214(s) which shows dates and character of service (honorable, general, etc.). If you are currently serving on active duty and expect to be released or discharged within 120 days you must submit documentation related to your active duty service which reflects the dates of service, character of service (honorable, general, etc.), and dates of impending separation. Additionally, disabled veterans and others eligible for 10-point preference (such as widows or mothers of eligible Veterans) must also submit an SF-15 "Application for 10 Point Veteran Preference" with required proof as stated on the form. Documentation is required to award preference. For more information on Veterans' Preference, please visit Feds Hire Vets - Veterans - Job Seekers - Veterans' Preference.

Veterans' preference does not apply for internal or other current permanent Federal agency employees.

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