Will “Respiratory Therapist (RT)” be Replaced By Robots? 🤔

Job Description

Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment.

Job Details

• The SOC (Standard Occupational Classification) code is 29-1126.00
• The Mean Annual Wage in the U.S. is $ 60,640.00
• The Mean Hourly Wage is $ 29.00
• Currently, there are 126,770 people on this job

☝️ Information based on the reference occupation “Respiratory Therapists”.

Also Known As…

• Respiratory Therapists
• Staff Therapist
• Staff Respiratory Therapist
• Respiratory Therapy Director
• Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP)
• Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT)
• Clinical Coordinator of Respiratory Therapy
• Certified Respiratory Therapist (CRT)
• Cardiopulmonary Technician and EEG Tech (Cardiopulmonary Technician and Electroencephalogram Technician)
• Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation Respiratory Therapist
• Respiratory Therapist (RT)
• Oxygen Therapist
• Inhalation Therapist

Tasks for “Respiratory Therapist (RT)”

• Set up and operate devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
• Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
• Monitor cardiac patients, using electrocardiography devices, such as a holter monitor.
• Transport patients to the hospital or within the hospital.
• Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.
• Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
• Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
• Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.
• Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
• Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
• Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.
• Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
• Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises or the use of medications or respiratory equipment.
• Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
• Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
• Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Perform endotracheal intubation to maintain open airways for patients who are unable to breathe on their own.
• Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
• Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, or lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.
• Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.
• Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.
• Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.

Related Technology & Tools

• Continuous positive airway pressure CPAP ventilators
• Electrocardiography EKG units
• Tracheostomy tubes
• Apnea monitors
• Medical oxygen masks
• Small particle aerosol generators
• Electronic blood pressure equipment
• Nasal airways
• Oxygen regulators
• Tracheotomy masks
• Infant incubators
• Percussors
• Portable flat computers
• Nebulizers
• Oxygen masks
• Oral airways
• Oxygen tanks
• Hemodynamic monitors
• Christmas tree adapters
• Oxygen monitors
• Sputum traps
• Internal positive pressure breathing IPPB machines
• Manometers
• Air compressors
• Therapeutic treadmill exercisers
• Medical aerosol tents
• Oxygen concentrators
• Bedside spirometers
• Medical suction equipment
• Blood gas kits
• Aerosol masks
• Cannulas
• Pulmonary function testing PFT equipment
• Capillary catheters
• Evacuated blood collection tubes
• Wright's spirometers
• Tourniquets
• Blood collection syringes
• Indirect calorimeters
• Mechanical stethoscopes
• Notebook computers
• Personal computers
• Volume ventilators
• Oxygen tents
• Humidifiers
• Bronchoscopes
• Endotracheal ET tubes
• Manual blood pressure equipment
• High-frequency ventilators
• Blood gas machines
• Saturation of oxygen SaO2 monitors
• Negative pressure ventilators
• Intra-aortic balloon pumps IABP
• Ambu bags
• Incentive spirometers
• Oxygen hoods
• Surgical suits
• Cell savers
• Oxygen flowmeters
• Personal digital assistants PDA
• Pulse oximeters
• Bilevel positive airway pressure BiPAP ventilators

• Microsoft Office
• Microsoft Excel
• MEDITECH software
• HMS
• Electronic medical record EMR software
• Database software
• Microsoft PowerPoint
• Microsoft Outlook
• Calendar and scheduling software
• Microsoft Word