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)”

• 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.
• Set up and operate devices such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.
• Monitor cardiac patients, using electrocardiography devices, such as a holter monitor.
• Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
• Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.
• Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
• Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
• Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• 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.
• Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
• Transport patients to the hospital or within the hospital.
• Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
• Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, or lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.
• 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.
• Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
• 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.
• Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
• Perform endotracheal intubation to maintain open airways for patients who are unable to breathe on their own.
• Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.
• Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
• Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.

Related Technology & Tools

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

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