Kelly Thunde
Registered Respiratory Therapist
Chambersburg,Pennsylvania
Summary
Seasoned Respiratory Therapist with a proven track record of rapport and respect of providers, colleagues, and patients at WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital. Skilled in patient management and education, serves as the Pulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist responsible for maintaining AACVPR certification standards while developing and implementing individualized treatment plans for program enrollees. Committed to improving patient quality of life and outcomes through comprehensive education and personalized exercise training.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
4
4
Certifications
Work History
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist
WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital
06.2015 - Current
- Develops and performs monthly reviews of personalized rehabilitation plans to enhance respiratory patients' health-related quality of life.
- Maintains AACVPR pulmonary rehabilitation program certification.
- Writes and reviews policies and procedures
- Creates and completes annual staff competencies and emergency drills.
- Evaluates diagnostic data to determine eligibility
- Assesses potential candidates for Pulmonary Rehabilitation for appropriateness, safety and needed services.
- Frequently communicates with medical director and other members of patients' care teams to optimize their treatment plans.
- Empowers those with chronic lung disease by teaching self-management techniques, safe exercise principles and by promoting independence in daily activities.
- Provides emotional support, compassionate care and encouragement, creating strong rapport with patients and support persons during their rehabilitation journey.
- Develops and updates educational materials as resources for patients and their support persons.
- Educates patients and families on disease management, breathing techniques, and medication administration, promoting self-care and adherence to treatment plans.
- Recommends medical equipment and medication options, recommending what may optimize patient's treatment based on individual needs and abilities.
- Streamlines documentation processes, resulting in increased efficiency and accuracy of patient records.
- Conducts ongoing evaluations of program effectiveness, making recommendations for improvements in service delivery based on data-driven insights.
- Maintains safe environment for 4-patient facility with continuous surveillance and proper response.
- Balances administrative and patient-care duties as the sole full-time program employee
- Maintains patient charts and information, strictly adhering to HIPAA laws and privacy guidelines.
Registered Respiratory Therapist
WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital
05.1998 - Current
- Manages respiratory devices for up to 20 patients weekly in med-surg and critical care settings
- Administers respiratory therapy treatments and monitor patient responses to improve recovery outcomes.
- Collaborates with multidisciplinary teams to optimize treatment plans for patients
- Educates patients and families on respiratory health management and equipment usage for improved adherence.
- Provides emergency response assistance in cases of respiratory distress or failure as part of a rapid response team.
- Performes bronchial hygiene techniques to remove mucus and secretions from patient lungs and improve lung function.
- Maintains accurate patient records to track patients' medical history and treatment plans.
- Completes continued education units annually to stay current with respiratory therapy advancements and maintain compliance with administrative regulations.
- Contributes to improved patient satisfaction scores by delivering compassionate and empathetic care throughout the treatment process.
- Mentors new hires and students in respiratory therapy best practices, contributing to a high-quality work environment.
- Promotes a positive workplace culture through active participation in department meetings, committees, and quality improvement initiatives.
- Informs patients, family members and other healthcare personnel how to properly use respiratory care equipment.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Respiratory Therapy
York College of Pennsylvania
York, Pennsylvania, PA05-1998
Skills
- Pulmonary Rehabilitation
- Professionalism, reliability, critical thinking, time management
- Emergency Response
- Patient Assessment, evaluation and education
- Active listening and excellent communication
- Rehabilitation treatment planning
- Therapeutic exercise
- Task prioritization
Certification
- Registered Respiratory Therapist - National Board for Respiratory Care - 1998
- Advanced Cardiac Life Support - American Heart Association - 2025
- Pulmonary Disease Educator Course - 2022
- Certificate in Pulmonary Rehabilitation - 2019
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Pulmonary Rehabilitation Specialist
WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital
06.2015 - Current
Registered Respiratory Therapist
WellSpan Chambersburg Hospital
05.1998 - Current
Bachelor of Science - Respiratory Therapy
York College of Pennsylvania