General Information:
What is a Respiratory Therapist?

Respiratory care is one of the fastest growing health care professions in the nation. The respiratory care practitioner has become a highly regarded member of the health care team and plays a direct role in the treatment of lung disease.

Most people take breathing for granted. It is second nature and an involuntary reflex. Yet, for thousands of Americans who suffer from breathing problems, each breath is a major accomplishment. Those people include patients with chronic lung problems such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, and may also include heart attack and accident victims. Premature infants, people with cystic fibrosis, lung cancer, and AIDS also benefit from the intervention of a respiratory therapist.

Respiratory therapists work under the direction of a physician and assist in the diagnosis, treatment and management of patients with various types of breathing disorders.