Will “Respiratory Therapists” 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

Also Known As…

• Staff Therapist
• Staff Respiratory Therapist
• Respiratory Therapy Director
• Respiratory Therapist (RT)
• 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
• Oxygen Therapist
• Inhalation Therapist

Tasks for “Respiratory Therapists”

• Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.
• Monitor cardiac patients, using electrocardiography devices, such as a holter monitor.
• Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.
• 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.
• Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.
• Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.
• Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.
• Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.
• 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 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.
• 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.
• Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.
• 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.
• Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.
• Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.
• Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.
• Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.
• Relay blood analysis results to a physician.
• Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.
• Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, or lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.
• Transport patients to the hospital or within the hospital.

Related Technology & Tools

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

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