Overview
Respiratory Care provides mechanical ventilators (life support) for postoperative cardiac patients, victims of major trauma, those with life-threatening lung failure, premature neonates and for any other problem that causes respiratory failure. RRTs treat patients with asthma, emphysema, chronic bronchitis, COPD, Cystic Fibrosis, Lung Cancer and other problems that affect the ability to breathe. RRTs at the Medical Center are available around the clock, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Respiratory Care performs and assists in many diagnostic and therapeutic procedures:
- Administering inhaled aerosol medications to help alleviate breathing problems and prevent respiratory infections.
- Initiating and managing mechanical ventilators in patients who are unable to breathe adequately on their own.
- Operating various types of highly sophisticated equipment to administer oxygen or to assist with breathing.
- Maintaining a patient’s artificial airway
- Obtaining and analyzing blood gas samples.
- Performing pulmonary function tests
- Assisting in bronchoscopies
Medical Services
Therapeutic Services—The types of services offered range from routine care on the general floors to critical care and life support in critical care units and the Emergency Department. Both interfacility and intrafacility transports are provided. Therapeutic services are carried out in all locations of the hospital as well as in clinics adjacent to the hospital.
Diagnostic Services—Diagnostic services are provided to inpatients and outpatients through the Pulmonary Function Testing Laboratory, which include metabolic studies as well as the complete range of pulmonary function studies. The PFT lab includes the capability of performing body plethysmography. Pulmonary function testing spans most age groups, but is limited by the patient’s ability to perform the test because of age, physical inability, or an impaired ability to understand and follow instructions.
Special Services—The department offers services that are both diagnostic and therapeutic by providing assistants for physicians in the performance of bronchoscopies. Bronchoscopy assistance is performed both within the endoscopy suite and in the units and floors of the hospital as requested by the performing physician. This service includes all age ranges of inpatients and outpatients.
Respiratory Staff Members
What is a Respiratory Therapist? A respiratory therapist (RT) is part of the healthcare team to assist those with breathing problems from lung disease, surgery or injury. RRTs work under the direction of a physician to evaluate and develop then follow treatment plans to help restore, improve or maintain breathing function.
What kind of training do Respiratory Therapists have? Respiratory Therapists complete a two-year associate’s degree or a four-year bachelor’s degree program. RRTs must pass national board exams, administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care, and obtain a state license to practice respiratory care. RRTs may then take certification exams to become specialty certified. Respiratory Therapists then complete several hours of continuing education and competency-based check offs annually to maintain licensure.
With more than 108 RRTs, the UTMC Respiratory Care department participates and provides formal training in programs for respiratory therapists, paramedics, nurses and pulmonary medicine fellows. Respiratory Care strives to be known as this region’s leader in excellence and progressive care for patients with breathing problems.
