What is respiratory therapy?
If you are hospitalized for a condition affecting your lungs, your provider may refer you to a respiratory therapist (RT) while in the hospital or emergency department. RTs specialize in caring for your lungs and treat conditions that affect breathing by giving oxygen, administering drugs and managing ventilators.
Respiratory therapistswork under the direction of our FMC hospitalists, emergency care providers, and specialty providers. They treat a range of patients, from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people with lung disease.
Respiratory therapy is a field of treatment that helps individuals optimize their respiratory function, breathe more easily, and live more comfortably. Respiratory therapists help diagnose, monitor, and treat conditions that affect the lungs and breathing in people of any age.
Are you interested in this healthcare field? Click here to see our current job postings for Respiratory Therapists.
Commonly treated symptoms and diseases:
- Cough
- Coughing up blood or mucus
- Wheezing
- Shortness of breath (dyspnea)
- Chest pressure
- Chest pain
- Abnormal chest X-ray results
- Abnormal blood oxygen testing results