As a Respiratory Therapist at BAPTIST HEALTH, you could have the opportunity to provide quality patient-centered services to all ages and demographics at various sites within the state of Arkansas, using not only standard equipment but also specialty procedures for high acuity patients. Respiratory Therapy opportunities are available at BAPTIST HEALTH – Little Rock, Rehabilitation Institute, North Little Rock, Arkadelphia, and Heber Springs.

Our Patients:

Baptist Health exists to provide the best quality care to our patients. Our Respiratory Care Department is located within the Clinical Services division of BAPTIST HEALTH. Diagnostic and therapeutic services are provided, in accordance with the American Association of Respiratory Care (AARC) standards of practice, by licensed respiratory care practitioners (RCP’s), to both inpatients and outpatients, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Patient populations served include neonates, infants, pediatrics, adolescents, adults, and geriatrics. The goals of patient care of the Respiratory Care Department are consistent with the philosophy of BAPTIST HEALTH and include the following:
To assess, treat, and/or test patients with cardiopulmonary dysfunction per physician order and/or protocol, and to document the patient response to such. To provide safe, efficient, and timely quality care to all patients in a caring, compassionate manner. To establish patient/family goals and to provide the patient/family the education needed to achieve the goals.

Our Staff:

Little Rock:
Protocol driven department with experienced staff in the areas of Critical Care, Neonatal, Neonatal transport, Medical/Surgical, Rehabilitation, Emergency and Diagnostic Respiratory Care with core staffing in Adult Critical Care, Neonatal Critical Care, Adult Med/Surg, and Pulmonary Diagnostics. With over 100 Respiratory Care Therapists, six dedicated Patient Assessors and eleven Pulmonary Specialists, we are able to provide “All Our Best” in healthcare for our patients.

North Little Rock:
Staffed by 25 experienced Respiratory Therapists who work in the areas of Adult Critical Care, Medical/Surgical, Rehabilitation, Pediatrics, and Emergency Medicine. The department provides a full range of diagnostic procedures including lung volumes by body plethysmography, bronchoscopy, and cardiopulmonary stress testing. The therapists work with ventilator weaning protocols both in the ICU and CICU.

Arkadelphia:
Staffed with 6 licensed Therapists with over 120 years cumulative experience in all aspects of Respiratory Care. They work closely with the Medical Staff to provide the best healthcare for all patients in all areas of the hospital, ranging from newborn to geriatric and general care to emergency transport.

Heber Springs:
Staffed with 11 Respiratory Care Therapists with a wide array of experience in all aspects of Respiratory Care, Critical Care and Emergency Care. They have the opportunity to provide CPR and ACLS instruction and smoking cessation counseling. As a service to the community they participate in Health Fairs, MASH, Champs and a Groundhog shadowing program that guides high school students toward a fulfilling healthcare career. They provide a diverse range of diagnostic procedures: Pulmonary function screening, EEG’s, NCV/EMG, Echocardiology, EKG, and Holter Monitoring.

Equipment and Work Setting:
BAPTIST HEALTH uses the latest generation ventilators (Puritan Bennett 840’s and Drager Baby Logs), ABG instruments, and Clinivision, a handheld clinical information system for assigning and charting patient care. Specialty procedures include adult and neonatal Nitric Oxide administration and high frequency ventilation. NICU therapists attend high-risk deliveries, and are an essential part of the NICU air and ground transport team. Labs include Pulmonary Function Lab, Bronchoscopy Lab, and Blood Gas Lab.

Students:
BAPTIST HEALTH Medical Center–Little Rock, North Little Rock and Rehabilitation Institute all serve as clinical rotation sites for accredited Respiratory Therapy programs. BAPTIST HEALTH also proudly offers a financial aid/work credit program for which students may apply following the first semester of a Registry Respiratory Therapy program. The financial aid - full tuition and books - may be granted each semester and is tied to a contract for employment with BAPTIST HEALTH upon graduation as a Respiratory Therapist.