Respiratory Therapy
Respiratory therapy is the assessment and treatment of patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary disorders, delivered by respiratory therapists. Services include airway management, ventilator support, oxygen therapy, and pulmonary rehabilitation across inpatient and outpatient settings.
What is Respiratory Therapy?
Respiratory Therapy is the clinical assessment and treatment of patients with breathing and cardiopulmonary disorders. It is provided by respiratory therapists, specialized clinicians trained to manage the airway and support lung function.
The work spans a wide range of interventions, including airway management, mechanical ventilator support, oxygen therapy, breathing treatments, and pulmonary rehabilitation. These services are delivered across inpatient, emergency, and outpatient settings.
Why is Respiratory Therapy important?
Patients with conditions ranging from chronic lung disease to acute respiratory failure depend on respiratory therapists to maintain adequate breathing and oxygenation. This expertise is often the difference between stable recovery and rapid deterioration.
In settings where anesthesia and sedation are used, respiratory therapists also play a role in managing airways and supporting patients during emergencies. Their skills are part of the safety net that allows procedures to proceed and complications to be handled quickly.
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