Katharine Franzen
Oshkosh,WI
Summary
- Seasoned Respiratory Therapist with +25 years of experience in a healthcare settings 7.5 in Homecare.
- Skillful in completing patient assessments, blood gas analysis and interpretation and airway management.
- Successful at implementing best practices to continuously advance respiratory therapy outcomes.
- Licensed respiratory professional trained to assess, diagnose and treat patients with breathing challenges.
- Patient problem-solver with excellent communication skills and practiced expertise at connecting with patients and earning trust.
- Compassionate and detail-oriented Respiratory Care Practioner committed to helping improve breathing of people with lung disease and various types of pulmonary distress. Treats wide range of patients with lung disease. Delivers expert technical and physical support while assisting and encouraging patients emotionally.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Home Care Respiratory Therapist
ThedaCare At Home
02.2022 - Current
- Educated patients and families on proper use of home sleep equipment and techniques for managing sleep disorders to improve patient outcomes.
- Completed continued education units annually to stay current with respiratory therapy advancements and maintain compliance with administrative regulations.
- Provided comprehensive care to improve and strengthen clients' standard of living .
- Maintained accurate patient records to track patients' medical history and treatment plans.
- Monitored patient reactions to treatment and carefully documented findings.
- Maintained patient charts and information, strictly adhering to HIPAA laws and privacy guidelines.
Critical Care Respiratory Therapist
Thedacare Hospitals
10.2019 - 02.2022
- Managed and operated mechanical ventilators to deliver airway management.
- Collaborated with physicians and other healthcare professionals to develop and implement patient treatment plans.
- Administered oxygen therapy, aerosol therapy and inhalation therapy to improve patients' breathing and lung function.
- Aided physicians with various procedures such as bronchoscopies, ventilator management, and intubations.
- Performed bronchial hygiene techniques to remove mucus and secretions from patient lungs and improve lung function.
- Monitored patient's physiological responses to therapy such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, and blood chemistry changes.
- Provided antibiotics, bronchodilators, and anti-inflammatory medications with hand-held nebulizers, metered-dose inhalers and positive pressure equipment.
- Tested pulmonary function and analyzed arterial blood gas to identify abnormalities and issues with patient lung function.
- Responded to emergency codes and calls during off-hours and immediately initiated treatment.
- Educated patient and family on patient's illness and available remedies.
- Conducted tests such as EKGs and drainages.
- Evaluated care policies using patient records and current research findings to develop better treatment.
- Monitored patient reactions to drugs and carefully documented findings.
- Completed continued education units annually to stay current with respiratory therapy advancements and maintain compliance with administrative regulations.
- Assessed, diagnosed, and treated breathing issues.
- Delivered treatment for patients experiencing chronic and acute respiratory illnesses by conducting assessments and providing diagnoses.
Tracheotomy/Ventilator Specialist
Aurora At Home
04.2017 - 10.2019
- Managed and operated mechanical ventilators to deliver airway management.
- Educated patients and families on proper use of respiratory equipment and techniques for managing respiratory disorders to improve patient outcomes.
- Cooperated and communicated with physicians to deliver patient satisfaction and meet compliance with set standards.
- Maintained accurate patient records to track patients' medical history and treatment plans.
- Maintained patient charts and information, strictly adhering to HIPAA laws and privacy guidelines.
- Prepared annual trach and ventilator training for the other respiratory therapists.
- Prepared and facilitated training of all home equipment, with family/caretakers, prior to patient discharge.
- Preformed regular, in-home checks of all respiratory equipment.
Organ Procurement Coordinator
Wisconsin Donor Network
05.2016 - 04.2017
- Established and maintained effective communication with staff, physicians and community organizations to promote high quality patient care.
- Liaised with other healthcare professionals to develop comprehensive patient care plans and provide highest quality of care.
- Received and screened potential organ donor referrals though chart reviews.
- Provided family support to donor and potential donor families.
- Obtained consent and a behavioral, medical, & social history of potential organ donors.
- Performed physical assessments and conducted full donor management.
- Accountable for accurate and timely allocation of organs.
- Assisted in perfusion, preservation, packaging, and distribution of donated organs.
- Responsible for follow-up activities related to the donation process.
- Establisheed on-going proactive relationships with various entities related to donation, i.e., other Organ Procurement Organizations (OPO) personnel, transplant personnel, hospital personnel
Senior Respiratory Therapist
Apria Healthcare
05.2014 - 05.2016
- Createdthe on-call schedule for all of the respiratory therapists
- Provided one-on-one in home clinical patient care and ventilator support of in-home non-invasive ventilator patients
- In-home end tidal CO2 and spirometry testing for non-invasive ventilator patients
- Provided education on proper usage of PAP device, oxygen conserving devices and portable oxygen concentrators
- Provided patient care via telephone triage and troubleshooting for nebulizer compressors, oxygen condensers, aerosol generator, PAP devices and other respiratory equipment.
- Assisted customer in ordering proper supplies
- Provided physicians with data downloads from PAP devices on demand with confidence.
- Set-up, downloaded and faxed overnight oximetry tests to ordering physicians
Neonatal Transport Respiratory Therapist
ProHealth Care
06.2009 - 08.2013
- Three years as a neonatal intensive care unit respiratory practitioner with neonatal transport experience
- Patient care in the adult intensive care unit, the emergency room, pediatrics, neurological, and medical/surgical departments
- Ventilator and artificial airway management, including high frequency ventilator, nitric oxide administrations, endotracheal and tracheostomy tube care
- Patient based education on medications and disease processes
- Administration of aerosolized medications
- Initiating bedside and incentive spirometers
- Overnight phlebotomy lab draws and EKG testing
- Tested pulmonary function and analyzed arterial blood gas to identify abnormalities and issues with patient lung function.
Education
Associate of Applied Science - Respiratory Therapy
Milwaukee Area Technical College
Milwaukee, WI05.2009
Skills
- Patient Care Documentation
- Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (CPR)
- Physical Assessment
- Airway Management
- Respiratory Therapy
- Professional Bedside Manner
- Patient Health Information Access
- Tracheostomy Care
- Bronchopulmonary Drainage
- Care Plan Management
- Patient and Family Advocacy
- Strong Clinical Judgment
- Respiratory Equipment Setup
- Breathing Exercises
- Pulse Oximetry
- Medical Histories and Vital Statistics
- Blood Gas Analysis
- Therapeutic Gas Administration Apparatus
- Standards of Excellence
- Newborn Intensive Care
- Blood Chemistry Changes
- Operational Standards
- Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome
- Clinical Assessments
- Verbal and Written Communication
- Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
- Coaching and Mentoring
- Communicating with Patient Families
- Patient Instruction
- Individualized Care Plans
- Pulmonary Function Testing
- Reading Comprehension
- Oxygen Therapy
- Mechanical Ventilators
- Medication Side Effect Knowledge
- Patient Needs Assessment
- Quality Patient Care
- Arterial Punctures
- Infection Control Techniques
- Monitor Patients
- Individualized Instruction
- Evidence Collection
- Laboratory Testing
- Information Coordination
- Equipment Troubleshooting and Maintenance
- Local and State Regulations
- Quality Improvement Plans
- Supporting Daily Living Needs
- Technique Instruction
- Educate Patients
- Patient Data Management Systems
- Deliver Treatment
- Emotional Support
- Creative Solutions
- Intubation
- Bronchodilators
- Spirometer Reading
- Drug Administration Trained
- Maintaining Patient Safety Standards
Additional Information
Other positions
Respiratory Department Assistant
-ProHealth Care 2005-2009
Unit Clerk Coordinator
-ProHealth Care 2001-2005
Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technician/Motor Pump Operator/part-time fire inspections
-City of Pewaukee Fire Department 1998-2003
Timeline
Home Care Respiratory Therapist
ThedaCare At Home
02.2022 - Current
Critical Care Respiratory Therapist
Thedacare Hospitals
10.2019 - 02.2022
Tracheotomy/Ventilator Specialist
Aurora At Home
04.2017 - 10.2019
Organ Procurement Coordinator
Wisconsin Donor Network
05.2016 - 04.2017
Senior Respiratory Therapist
Apria Healthcare
05.2014 - 05.2016
Neonatal Transport Respiratory Therapist
ProHealth Care
06.2009 - 08.2013
Associate of Applied Science - Respiratory Therapy
Milwaukee Area Technical College
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