Respiratory Therapist Medical

Randy Lynn Steffen RRT/RCP

APNR “American Professional Nursing Resources” March 2013 – October 2013

COO – Responsible in finding private parties to purchase franchises in specific cities on the

Province of Mindano, Philippines. After all franchises were sold I spent just over 2 months in

the Philippines setting them up in the respective cities. I will continue to be a consultant – and

only need phone or email contact. I actually met the business owners during a trip to the

Philippines during a medical mission that I attended/ worked at in 2012.

Methodist Specialty and Transplant January 2013 – August 2013

Night Shift Supervisor for Cardiopulmonary // Respiratory Care. I had about 8 staff that I made

the schedule for, as well as educated the staff, and assisted them in becoming better RCP’s. This

was at first a bit of a challenge, there were many issues in the department especially on the night

shift due to a lack of leadership for over a year. In the 8 months I was there 3 night shift

employees were terminated according to hospital policy. This was a “needed thinning” and

allowed us / me to recruit new staff that were better team players as well as more customer

oriented. I did get along with the staff and I have a good relationship with director and upper

management as well as physicians. At least 55% of my time was focused on direct patient care.

As the supervisor I was responsible for all ER patients as well as all patient transports. I

responded to all codes (CODE BLUE and Rapid Response). This facility is ranked Number 1 for

Kidney Transplants in the USA and Number 3 for Liver Transplants. I suffered from severe

allergies in San Antonio and this was the main factor in me wanting to leave. NEVER in my life

did I experience allergies and I was taking 2 different medications a day. I have not had to take

any medications since a week after I left. The allergies were from the different trees in the area

as well as mold spores.

Performed Medical Mission to Philippines – assisted American Surgical group as well as

educated local families about Asthma, triggers and medications as well as some education on

smoking.

Mission Regional Medical Center April 2011 – May 2012

Director Cardiopulmonary. I remained as a working director due to the very inexperienced staff

that was already there. More than 50% of the staff were new grads hired before I accepted the

position. I attended all Codes, was a member of the CODE Blue TASK Force (included

education of staff as well as researching all codes and why they occurred, we were able to

decrease our CODE Blue calls by 27%). I attended High Risk deliveries of neo-nates, and we

were the only facility in South Texas that had a NICU Transport Team. Next hospital that

provided this was 140 miles away. During my tenure here I wrote multiple protocols for vent

management, oxygenation, as well as needed policies and protocols to make the ABG Lab CAP

certified. I also was a member of the TJC task force. I went thru both CAP and TJC surveys as

well as Texas Dept of Health inspections – fully accredited after all surveys/inspections with

only a couple minor RFI’s from CAP. I was released from my duties and I am “not allowed to

discuss” other than to say I was given a severance package (not work injury). I am sure that

Carlos Trevino, COO, who I reported to will give me a good recommendation. I also decreased

VAP from rate of 23 to <1 in the 12 months. I also brought employee satisfaction from 46% to a

facility record high of 92%!

Rady Childrens Hospital February 2011 – April 2011

Respiratory Therapist. This was only meant to be a temporary position until I found permanent

full time employment. I worked in the Pulmonary Unit as well as in the ER. Spent some time in

PICU and NICU also. The ER was a very interesting and exciting department that I really

enjoyed! We had policies and protocols that allowed us to treat patients with out waiting for

physician orders. We also administered some IV medications (Solumedrol/Prednisone). Radys

was the only Level 3 Pediatric ER in all of southern California. I drove 2 hours to work and 2

hours home… this was only a temporary position but I worked on average 5 days a week (12

hour shifts). I was considering a permanent move to San Diego to work for Rady full time if the

position would become available, but it is a Union facility and new positions were filled by “rank

and file” which would have taken me over a year to get full time.

Performed a Medical Mission to southern Mexico and assisted with surgery and recovery of

pediatric patients. This does take time to arrange and get necessary supplies to go with you.

November 2010 for 2 weeks.

El Centro Regional Medical Center June 2005 – October 2010

Director Cardiopulmonary. During my time at ECRMC I brought the department from an “all

contract” department to a hospital ran department. This included having to right all new policies

and procedures and recruiting all new staff. I served on multiple committees as a member and as

chair and co-chair positions. I was also head of the hospitals Patient Satisfaction and

Measurement team after serving for 2 years as co-chair. During my team here I acted as Interim

Director for Physical Therapy and The Spine Center as well as assisted with Lab and Radiology

Director duties. I would work nights as a Therapist when staff called in sick, I would also assist

with high risk deliveries any time of the day or night since we were the only facility within 2

hours that offered NICU (Level 2) services. I also was responsible for acquiring a CAP license

and certification for ABG Lab – and we took those responsibilities away from general lab – this

was a Physician driven move to improve turnaround time for better patient care. I assisted with

many community events as well- this included but was not limited to being in charge of building

floats for parades and holidays, SMOKE free El Centro initiative, and Asthma Coalition. I

maintained a customer satisfaction of 99% for over 3 years (survey by NRC Picker) and

employee satisfaction of >90% for 4 years. I was let go due to “political” reasons – new

Administration came on board. I drove back and forth for 4 years (70 kilometers one way) so that

my kids could stay in their school and graduate.

Yuma Regional Medical Center February 2004 - June 2005

Respiratory Therapist NICU Level 3. Most of my time here was in the NICU, although some

was spent in Pediatric area (no PICU but did stabilize because nearest facility was 200

kilometers away). I also worked in the ER and Adult ICU which also included open heart

recovery. On occasion I was appointed night shift Team Leader. I assisted with training new staff

to the NICU and ER, as well as educated parents on CPR for new borns. I was asked to dress as

Batman for hospital community parties and interacted with the public during this time. I left this

position after my year contract to take the Director position in El Centro.

Grand Itasca Regional February 2003 – November 2003

Respiratory Therapist Nights. Our Motto – be prepared for whatever comes thru the door! We

were a small community hospital that served a very large area. Based Along a busy highway in

northern Minnesota and no other medical provider for 2 hours away we took care of many issues.

I left Kentucky to go back to Minnesota because my mother suffered a major stroke. This facility

was more “stabilize and transport” than anything else, but we did see more than our fair share of

everything and anything.

Norton Hospital and Womens Center (not sure on dates)September 2002 - December 2002

Respiratory Therapist. This was a large Womens center hospital in Louisville, Kentucky. I had

planned on staying here with Norton but left to care for my mother after her major stroke. Level

3 NICU. I really enjoyed this facility and living in Kentucky.

Jewish Heart and Lung Institute April 2001 – September 2002

Started as a Respiratory Therapist and was promoted to Director at Taylor County Hospital.

Jewish hospital I was one of 3 therapists that worked the Abio-cor Artificial Heart implant.

http://www.abiomed.com/products/heart-replacement/ I also worked as “Appointed Instructor” to

Bellarmine University at Jewish. After our studies were complete I was promoted to Director (at

a managed hospital). I had ethical issues as Director – the surgeons were traching patients just

after 7 days on the vent. All for money / reimbursement reasons. I chose to leave and work as a

Therapist.

Childrens Kosair Hospital

I worked here per-diem/ as needed and when I was able to during the same time I worked at

Jewish, and while I was an Instructor also. I worked in NICU which was Level 3.

Austin Medical Center, MAYO Health System June 1997 to May 2001

Respiratory Therapist and Home Care Coordinator. I worked for AMC and this is really where I

“began” and I was highly influenced by the medical practices and ethics of the MAYO system.

To this day I am welcome to come back if I desire, and I keep in touch with many friends that

include nurses, directors, administration, and physicians. In fact, I was asked to come and work

at a MAYO facility in Wisconsin in 2012 but declined because I don’t want to be in freezing

cold! I performed ABG’s, PFT’s, GXT’s. I started A-lines and IV’s. I intubated and initiated

invasive and non-invasive ventilation. I helped with TJC readiness and I instructed ACLS, NRP,

PALS and Basic CPR as I did maintain this for many years up until 2010 at another facility when

I decided I wanted my weekends for “me” time.

During my college time I was chosen by Saint Mary’s Hospital in Duluth, MN (a hospital I did

some of my clinical hours at) to be awarded the “Northern Student Award”. It was awarded to me

for my community involvement as well as my clinical achievements.

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