Covenant Health

Pulmonary Disease Navigator/Educator, Respiratory Therapy

Full Time, 80 Hours Per Pay Period, Day Shift

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is an award-winning, certified, and accredited facility with 541 beds. As a Joint Commission Comprehensive Stroke Center, Fort Sanders offers state-of-the art care that maximizes recovery from stroke.  We are also the region’s leader in technology in areas such as bariatric surgery, robotic surgery and minimally invasive spine surgery. Our door-to-balloon times for heart attack patients are below the national average, and our hip fracture center offers advanced diagnosis, surgery and recovery procedures for hip patients.

Fort Sanders Regional Medical Center is a member of Covenant Health, a locally-owned, non-profit health system based in Knoxville, TN, with a “patient-focused” culture. It has been recognized by Forbes Magazine as its 2020 “Best-in-State-Employer” for Tennessee. The CEO of our company, Jim VanderSteeg, attends every new employee orientation and will ask you to sign our pledge of excellence to always put patients first, strive for excellence in everything we do, and make Covenant Health the first and best choice for patients in our region. As you’d expect, we offer our employees a robust benefits package, including: offering unmatched medical insurance, tuition reimbursement; student loan repayment assistance, certification bonuses; leadership and professional development programs; an employer-matched 401(k); and a generous Combined Time Off (CTO) program.

Position Summary:

The Pulmonary Disease Respiratory Therapy Navigator provides clinical support, treatment access, education and coordination of patient-centered care to benefit the patient, family and multidisciplinary physicians while helping achieve optimal outcomes for Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary (COPD) patients and their families. This position will serve as the navigator for the Medical inpatients that have a diagnosis of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

If you have any questions please contact Recruiter: Kimberlin Woods || 865-374-5403 || kwoods8@COVHLTH.COM  

• Serves as the essential link between patients and other care providers to provide resources and assistance with accessing clinical and supportive care services offered within the healthcare system and the community.
• Reviews all inpatients with a diagnosis of COPD, using the 2023 Global Initiatives for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease Strategy Report and establishing patient’s plan of care.
• Attends daily Interdisciplinary Patient Care Rounds.
• Works with internal resources to support the coordination and collaboration of care in the acute care setting.
• Referrals to Pulmonary Rehabilitation and COPD support group; acts as a liaison to patients, families and providers to ensure proper length of stay, adequate education and safe discharge. Addresses tangible barriers to care and facilitates referrals to appropriate support services.
• Promotes healthy lung health, ensuring that patients have access to smoking cessation materials, medications, behavior modification programs and resources to discontinue tobacco use and/or vaping.
• Assists patients in understanding their diagnostic and treatment options and the resources available.
• Creates and leads monthly COPD support group.
• Aids in coordination of care between various healthcare providers and facilities, as needed.
• Facilitates patient appointments, including those made with labs, diagnostic areas and specialty physicians.
• Evaluates and monitors quality metrics, and reports findings at the quarterly committee meetings.
• Works to develop and maintain physician rapport.
• Follows policies, procedures, and safety standards. Completes required education assignments annually. Works toward achieving goals and objectives, and participates in quality improvement initiatives as requested.
• Performs other duties as assigned.

Minimum Education: Bachelor of Science; graduate from an accredited school for Respiratory Care

Minimum Experience: Minimum of three (3) years clinical experience in acute care

Licensure Requirement: Licensed in the State of Tennessee as a Registered Respiratory Therapist with ABG endorsement and valid RRT credential by the National Board of Respiratory Care required. Must complete AARC Pulmonary Disease Educator course within 6 months of hire.