Respiratory therapists are specially trained healthcare professionals who work with physicians to provide a wide range of respiratory procedures and other services to people with asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, lung cancer and other lung related conditions. The standards for the Respiratory Therapy department are established by the National Board for Respiratory Care, Inc. and the American Association for Respiratory Care.
We help manage patients with breathing disorders by providing assessments, monitoring and physician directed therapy as well as various diagnostic tests. We treat and assist with all age groups of patients ranging from premature infants with undeveloped lungs to geriatric patients with lung diseases. In addition, we treat patients experiencing emergency respiratory issues related to illness and injury. Our team of therapists also provide important information and education on self-management techniques that help individuals and families deal with chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma and COPD.
Respiratory problems may be caused by:
- Allergies
- Bacterial infections (such as sinus infection, pneumonia, or tuberculosis)
- Viral infections (such as colds, sore throat, flu, croup, bronchiolitis, or RSV)
- Asthma
- Other causes (such as inhaled or swallowed objects, exposure to cigarette smoke, or cystic fibrosis)
When you can’t breathe, nothing else matters! Respiratory therapists perform many diagnostic and analytic procedures, such as evaluating lung capacity, performing chest physiotherapy, and monitoring cardiopulmonary systems. Treatment may require medication, intensive care, and/or pulmonary rehabilitation.
The NCMC Respiratory Therapy department offers the following services:
Inpatient Services
- Emergency resuscitation
- Oxygen administration (via numerous devices, as ordered by a physician).
- Pulmonary hygiene (including chest physiotherapy, cough-assist, suctioning, or use of incentive spirometry and other patient-use devices for airway clearance)
- Inhaled pulmonary medications (delivered via nebulizer, aerosol, or inhalers)
- Non-invasive ventilator support (using the latest technologies)
Outpatient Services
- Cardiac stress testing
- Pulmonary function testing
- Pulse oximetery
