Program Manager - ALS Clinic

The VCU Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Program Manager (PM) will manage a large and expanding ALS program that encompasses clinical care within a multidisciplinary clinic, a large clinical research portfolio, growing community outreach and engagement program. The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Program Manager will support the work of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Nurse Navigator, the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Clinic Director, the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis research team, and the rest of the Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis multidisciplinary team in partnership with the ALS Association. The Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis Program Manager will provide safe and effective respiratory care as an advanced Respiratory Therapist for adult and / or geriatric populations in accordance with discipline training, Clinical Practice Guidelines, and hospital standards and protocols. To serve as a respiratory care resource and educator for patients, caregivers, hospital staff and students.

Essential Job Statements

Respiratory Care Assessments and Monitoring

Coordinate Respiratory care and testing via in-clinic (as ordered by MD) and remote monitoring from home (if on non-invasive ventilation [NIV] with RT durable medical equipment [DME] vendor)

Facilitate implementation of home vital capacities, upright and supine, and ETCO2 by RT DME.

Use NIV downloads to determine updated ventilator settings, adjustments, and compliance prior to scheduled appts as well as data alarm notifications (vital capacity [VC] 50%, VC 30%, ETCO2 >

45) d. Clinic RT works with ALS Nurse Navigator and ALS clinic physician and ensure timely changes in NIV settings or goals of care are implemented.

Respiratory Care Maintenance

Coordinate assessments such has home sleep apnea testing, overnight pulse oximetry, capnography, upright and supine vital capacities, and facilitate testing in a timely manner.

Facilitate approval of respiratory / airway devices (NIV, Cough assist, Suction machine, nebulizer) by collecting and submitting necessary letters of necessity, EMR documentation, interfacing with Home Care companies, to ensure that treatment is implemented.

Maintenance of in clinic resp. testing devices.

Communication

Contact home care company month before pALS clinic appt and give them each pt from individual DME to obtain VC upright and supine, ETCO2 and download prior to clinic appt.

Review download and numbers with MD, follow up with DME on changes needed.

Attend in person ALS rounds on Tuesdays 8-8 : 30 integrate the care provided by different members of multidisciplinary team.

Consult with the ALS team members on clinic day, as well as throughout the week Contact appropriate members of the ALS team for interventions and problem-solve situations when appropriate.

Meet with pALS with social worker to continue goals of care discussions regarding end of life, hospice, tracheostomy outside of clinic

Coordinate with pulmonologist for pALS who are interested in having a tracheostomy performed.

Check work staff messages, cc chart messages, pt communication messages in portal.

Multidisciplinary clinic day, planning, and implementation

Performing in clinic evaluation of pALS respiratory status to include but not limited to : past medical history, resp history, resp medications, use of resp DME equipment, sleep evaluations, and upright and supine vital capacities.

Education of pALS and caregiver on role of RT, ALS effects on resp system, importance of pulmonary toilet, sharing of research on use of NIV to prolong survival, vaccinations, signs, and symptoms of resp compromise or infection, as well as education of infection prevention.

Coordinates ordering by physician of noninvasive ventilation, cough assist, suction, nocturnal pulse oximetry, nocturnal capox to RT DME companies.

Faxing MD orders, clinic notes, and all supportive ancillary notes to support DME orders.

Consults with the ALS team members on a consistent basis. Contact appropriate members of the ALS team for interventions and problem-solve situations when appropriate. f. Goals of care discussion with pALS, Caregivers, MD, nurse navigator, and social worker

Other Assigned tasks

Maintain FVC and SVC training certificates.

Education of clinic staff, hospital staff, respiratory care providers in the state on ALS

Continuing education for licensure

Clinical Operations / Program Manager (25%)

Assistance with New Patients

Once new patients identified, the program manager would reach out to patient / family member. Make sure scheduled correctly (with or without same day EMG), in Rapid Access

Clinic or directly in ALS Clinic. Ensure records obtained. Describe the clinic and what is expected during the first day.

He / she would also call new patients 1 week after initial visit to check on them, answer any questions, ensure they have received necessary equipment, medications, etc.

Assistance with Clinic Preparations

Prepare for weekly multidisciplinary team meetings by calling all established patients one week in advance, collecting updates on them from other providers, the EMR, and compiling these in a list that is disseminated to the ALS clinic team, the ALS Association (currently this responsibility is shared by RT and SW)

ALS Clinic Quality Improvement

The ALS clinic must adhere to the AAN ALS Practice Parameters, the AAN ALS Quality Measures, and the ALS Genetic Testing Guidelines. The PM will be responsible for tracking compliance with these standard requirements (necessary for accreditation through ALS Association).

The PM would be responsible for tracking patient compliance with medications, patient’s receipt of medications, date of death.

The PM would be responsible for tracking referral patterns, assessing our current time from symptom onset to diagnosis (delay to diagnosis).

Community Outreach / Education

Create and disseminate monthly newsletter.

Advertise and educate community providers about the Rapid Access ALS Program and raise awareness of the VCU Health ALS Clinic.

Maintain the VCU HS ALS website and social media pages.

Maintain and update online VCU Research specific opportunities.

Assist in the development and coordination of an annual ALS Symposium for patients, caregivers, the community.

Advising on and developing effective marketing and outreach materials.

Collaborating with team to address successes / challenges in program implementation, relevant current events, community feedback, resources, etc.

Collaborative goal setting with internal team members and external partners.

Advising on and developing visuals for collateral materials on all social media platforms.

Research Support (35%)

Overlap with the research team and confer with them at least weekly regarding prospective clinical trial participants and research study participants.

Attend weekly NM research conference call.

Maintain CITI licensure, ALSFRS-R licensure.

Maintain the VCU database of ALS patients used for retrospective studies (currently maintained by RT)

Act as a clinical research assistant and assist with data entry for the ALS Natural History Consortium and the ALL ALS Consortium

Assist with other survey-based, non-interventional studies.

Assist in advertising of VCU clinical research opportunities.

Participate in coordinating research topics, writing abstracts, presenting research at national and international meetings.

Continuing education on new clinical trials / studies which requires training.

Patient Population

Demonstrates knowledge and related competencies of the principles of growth and development of the life span and possesses the ability to assess data reflective of the patient's status and interprets the appropriate information needed to identify each patient's requirements relative to their age, specific needs and to provide the equitable care needed as described in departmental policies and procedures.

Employment Qualifications

Required Education :

Education, training and / or experience that has satisfied the eligibility requirements for the National Board for Respiratory Care (or its predecessor organizations)

Preferred Education :

Bachelor’s degree in Respiratory Therapy, Health administration, Public Health or Business Administration or health related field from an accredited program

Licensure / Certification Required :

Licensed by the Commonwealth of Virginia as a Respiratory Therapist required.

Current registry from the National Board for Respiratory (NBRC) as a Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT).

Current CPR certification as required by practice setting.

Licensure / Certification Preferred :

Minimum Qualifications

Years and Type of Required Experience

Minimum of (two 2) years’ experience as an RT

Years and Type of Preferred Experience

Five (5) years ‘experience as an RT

Prior leadership experience

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Required :

Familiarity and experience with ALS patients (and neuromuscular respiratory impairment)

Excellent interpersonal skills required and ability to interact professionally and gain trust with culturally diverse individuals.

Familiarity with regional and local landscape.

Ability to show empathy.

Ability to handle confidential information with discretion and professionalism.

Computer skills and proficiency

Demonstrated experience working in and fostering a diverse faculty, staff, and student environment or commitment to do so as a staff member at VCU.

Cultural Responsiveness

Other Knowledge, Skills and Abilities Preferred :

Working Conditions

Periods of high stress and fluctuating workloads may occur.

General office environment.

Required to car travel to off-site locations, occasionally in adverse weather conditions.

May be exposed to limited hazardous substances or body fluids.

May be exposed to human blood and other potentially infectious materials.

May have periods of constant interruptions.

Prolonged periods of working alone.

May be required to take call.

• Individuals in this position are required to exercise universal precautions, use personal protective equipment and devices, and learn the policies concerning infection control.

Physical Requirements

Physical Demands : Lifting / Carrying (0-50 lbs.), Lifting / Carrying (50-100 lbs.), Push / Pull (0-50 lbs.), Push / Pull (50-100 lbs.), Stoop, Kneel, Squat, Climbing, Balance, Bending

Work Position : Sitting, Walking, Standing

Additional Physical Requirements / Hazards

Physical Requirements : Manual dexterity (eye / hand coordination), Hear alarms / telephone / tape recorder, Reach above shoulder, Repetitive arm / hand movements, Finger Dexterity, Color Vision, Acuity – near, Acuity – far

Hazards : Depth perception, Exposure to toxic / caustic / chemicals / detergents, Exposure to moving mechanical parts, Exposure to dust / fumes, Exposure to potential electrical shock, Exposure to x ray / electromagnetic energy, Exposure to high pitched noises, Gaseous risk exposure

Mental / Sensory – Emotional

Mental / Sensory : Strong Recall, Reasoning, Problem Solving, Hearing, Speak Clearly, Write Legibly, Reading, Logical Thinking

Emotional : Fast pace environment, Steady Pace, Able to Handle Multiple Priorities, Frequent and Intense Customer Interactions, Noisy Environment, Able to Adapt to Frequent Change

The VCU ALS Program Manager (PM) will manage a large and expanding ALS program that encompasses clinical care within a multidisciplinary clinic, a large clinical research portfolio, growing community outreach and engagement program.

The ALS PM will support the work of the ALS Nurse Navigator, the ALS Clinic Director, the ALS research team, and the rest of the ALS multidisciplinary team in partnership with the ALS Association.

The ALS PM will provide safe and effective respiratory care as an advanced Respiratory Therapist for adult and / or geriatric populations in accordance with discipline training, Clinical Practice Guidelines, and hospital standards and protocols. To serve as a respiratory care resource and educator for patients, caregivers, hospital staff and students.

EEO Employer / Disabled / Protected Veteran / 41 CFR 60-1.4.