At Houston Methodist, the Hyperbaric Technician position is responsible for administering hyperbaric oxygen (HBO) therapy to patients of the Wound Care Program, under the supervision of a hyperbaric physician. This position records data established by policy and procedure, and reports observations and patient problems to the Hyperbaric Oxygen Therapy-qualified Registered Nurse. The Hyperbaric Technician position, under the direction of a Hyperbaric Oxygen-qualified Registered Nurse, demonstrates highly competent knowledge necessary to communicate appropriately and carry out delegated patient care tasks for assigned patient populations, providing high quality support of patient care and services. This position is responsible for assigned non-nursing functions which support the interprofessional team in delivering high quality, cost-effective care while practicing Patient and Family Centered Care in concert with Houston Methodist ICARE values.

PATIENT AGE GROUP(S) AND POPULATION(S) SERVED
Refer to departmental "Scope of Service" and "Provision of Care" plans, as applicable, for description of primary age groups and populations served by this job for the respective HM entity.

HOUSTON METHODIST EXPERIENCE EXPECTATIONS

• Provide personalized care and service by consistently demonstrating our I CARE values:
  • INTEGRITY: We are honest and ethical in all we say and do.
  • COMPASSION: We embrace the whole person including emotional, ethical, physical, and spiritual needs.
  • ACCOUNTABILITY: We hold ourselves accountable for all our actions.
  • RESPECT: We treat every individual as a person of worth, dignity, and value.
  • EXCELLENCE: We strive to be the best at what we do and a model for others to emulate.

• Practices the Caring and Serving Model

• Delivers personalized service using HM Service Standards

• Provides for exceptional patient/customer experiences by following our Standards of Practice of always using Positive Language (AIDET, Managing Up, Key Words)

• Intentionally collaborates with other healthcare professionals involved in patients/customers or employees' experiential journeys to ensure strong communication, ease of access to information, and a seamless experience.

• Involves patients (customers) in shift/handoff reports by enabling their participation in their plan of care as applicable to the given job

• Displays cultural humility, diversity, equity and inclusion principles

• Actively supports the organization's vision, fulfills the mission and abides by the I CARE values

PEOPLE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Collaborates with the interprofessional wound care team daily by communicating effectively, reporting pertinent patient care information and data in a comprehensive manner, and participating in unit meetings and huddles.

• Promotes a positive work environment that actively assists interprofessional care team to achieve optimal department results. Facilitates teamwork by anticipating the need for assistance and responding positively to requests for assistance. Encourages open communication to achieve mutual understanding.

• Interacts with peers, staff, patients and physicians in a supportive and respectful manner. Provides contributions towards improvement of department scores for employee engagement.

SERVICE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Follows the patient and family-centered care standards and provides direct patient care under the direction of a registered nurse. Documents, where applicable, care administered, diagnostic measurements, treatments and procedures in accordance with established policies and procedures.

• Ensures all equipment and furnishings are cleansed according to policy and procedure.

• Ensure patient education and consent forms are accurate and signed prior to any hyperbaric treatment, which will be determined by the physician based on the patient diagnosis. Ensures hyperbaric therapy records will be accurate, complete, and recorded in the patient EMR in a timely manner.

• Performs diagnostic testing, dressing materials, removal and disposal in a proper manner, preliminary wound cleansing done, ABI screening and other duties as assigned, as appropriate, and patient positioned for optimal wound assessment and evaluation.

• Performs transcutaneous oxygen monitoring testing as ordered and per department policy and report results to physician/nurse directing the care of the patient.

• Contributes towards improving department scores for patient satisfaction through peer-to-peer accountability.

QUALITY/SAFETY ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Provides constant monitoring of patients undergoing hyperbaric therapy, always staying in service range. Reports observations, conditions, problems and/or adverse events of patients immediately to licensed personnel to achieve desired patient outcomes. Provides for the privacy of patients and families, keeping the safety of the patient in mind.

• Collaborate with department personnel to identify new and efficient process improvement opportunities, based on evidence-based practice.

• Reports near misses and collaborates with the interprofessional health care team to improve patient safety. Contributes towards improving quality and safety scores on the department scorecard, through peer-to-peer accountability. Supports initiatives to prevent conditions such as pressure injuries, patient falls, and hospital-acquired infections.

FINANCE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Uses resources efficiently; does not waste supplies. Self-motivated to independently manage time effectively and prioritize daily tasks, minimizing incidental overtime. Utilizes time efficiently and helps other team members.

GROWTH/INNOVATION ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS

• Offers innovative solutions through participation in performance improvement projects and shared governance activities. Follows up on action items as necessary to ensure completion of assignments.

• Identifies and assumes responsibility of own learning needs. Completes and updates the My Development plan on an on-going basis. Ensures own career discussions occur with appropriate management.

This job description is not intended to be all-inclusive; the employee will also perform other reasonably related business/job duties as assigned. Houston Methodist reserves the right to revise job duties and responsibilities as the need arises.

EDUCATION

• High School diploma or equivalent education (examples include: GED, verification of homeschool equivalency, partial or full completion of post-secondary education, etc.)

WORK EXPERIENCE

• Two years previous experience in one of the following roles with wound care and hyperbaric:
•       ◊ Respiratory Therapist,
•       ◊ Physician Assistant
•       ◊ Emergency Medical Technician /Paramedic
•       ◊ Registered Nurse
•       ◊ Licensed Vocational Nurse
•       ◊ Nurse Practitioner
•       ◊ Active Duty Military Corpsman
•       ◊ Medical Assistant

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - REQUIRED

• RRT - Registered Respiratory Therapist (TMB) OR
• PA - Physician Assistant - State Licensure OR
• EMT-P - Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic - State Certification OR
• RN - Registered Nurse - Texas State Licensure and/or Compact State Licensure within 60 days OR
• RN-Temp - Registered Nurse - Temporary State Licensure within 60 days OR
• LVN - Licensed Vocational Nurse - State Licensure OR
• APRN-CNP - Adult Nurse Practitioner - State Licensure OR
• Active Duty Military Corpsman AND
• CHT - Certification in Hyperbaric Technology (NBDHMT) within 1 year OR
• CHWS- Certified Hyperbaric Wound Specialist (ABWH) within 1 year AND
• BLS - Basic Life Support (AHA)

LICENSES AND CERTIFICATIONS - PREFERRED

• ACLS - Advanced Cardiac Life Support (AHA)

KNOWLEDGE, SKILLS, AND ABILITIES

• Demonstrates the skills and competencies necessary to safely perform the assigned job, determined through on-going skills, competency assessments, and performance evaluations

• Sufficient proficiency in speaking, reading, and writing the English language necessary to perform the essential functions of this job, especially with regard to activities impacting patient or employee safety or security

• Ability to effectively communicate with patients, physicians, family members and co-workers in a manner consistent with a customer service focus and application of positive language principles

• Working knowledge of policies and procedures as it relates to Hyperbaric Medicine

• Able to perform provide non-invasive measurement of skin perfusion pressure (SPP) and pulse volume recording (PVR) on extremities of patients accurately and effectively

• knowledge of logs and computers for the purposes of ensuring compliance with regulatory and accrediting agencies

• Ability to operate, trouble shoot, and train new employees on the department-specific equipment on competency checklist

• Demonstrates independence and exercises judgment in interactions with physicians, interprofessional care team, patients and their families

• Displays strong time management skills

• Adapts to multiple ongoing priorities with minimal supervision including but not limited to organizing workflows and actively participating in problem-solving

• Demonstrates ability to access information both in the department and within the hospital system to support the department and interprofessional health care team as appropriate

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

WORK ATTIRE

• Uniform No
• Scrubs Yes
• Business professional No
• Other (department approved) Yes

ON-CALL*
*Note that employees may be required to be on-call during emergencies (ie. DIsaster, Severe Weather Events, etc) regardless of selection below.

• On Call* No

TRAVEL**
**Travel specifications may vary by department**

• May require travel within the Houston Metropolitan area Yes
• May require travel outside Houston Metropolitan area No

Houston Methodist The Woodlands opened in 2017 as the eighth hospital in the Houston Methodist system. This 187-bed, 470,000-square-foot, full-service, acute care hospital offers many of the same services as our flagship hospital in the Texas Medical Center. Also on the $380 million hospital campus, located at the intersection of I-45 and TX 242, is a medical office building, which opened in 2016. Medical Office Building 1 includes a breast care center, cancer center & infusion center, orthopedics & sports medicine, rehabilitation services, wellness services, and an outpatient laboratory in addition to multi-specialty physician practices. A second medical office building and 785-car parking garage opened in 2018.