WHAT IS A RESPIRATORY THERAPIST?
Respiratory Therapy has developed with the increasing sophistication of therapies directed toward cardio-pulmonary disorders. Respiratory Therapy can be defined as: "An allied health profession devoted to the scientific application of technology to assist in the diagnosis, treatment, and promotion of well being of patients with respiratory disorders.
This allied health profession has been a natural evolution of an emerging technology to care for a substantial growth of patients with a diversity of respiratory problems. The correct and meaningful utilization of respiratory services in hospitals and community health care will continue to improve the provision of care to the patient. Respiratory Therapists are the primary providers of these technical and therapeutic services.
CREDENTIALS
The Registered Respiratory Therapist (R.R.T.) is a graduate of an accredited educational program who has successfully passed the Canadian Board for Respiratory Care registration examination in respiratory therapy. Registered Respiratory Therapists practising in Manitoba are licensed annually by the Manitoba Association of Registered Respiratory Therapists.
The respiratory therapist's practise is governed by guidelines prescribed through Standards of Practise, ethical conduct codes, institutional policies and legal requirements.
WHERE RESPIRATORY THERAPISTS WORK 
- teaching hospitals
- community hospitals
- chronic care facilities
- home care agencies
- private medical supply companies
- pulmonary function labratories
- community health agencies
- research facilities
DUTIES OF THE RESPIRATORY THERAPIST
- mechanical ventilation management
- Oxygen therapy
- Aerosol medication therapy
- Medical gas therapy
- Airway management
- pulmonary function testing
- Patient and care giver education
- Blood gas sampling and analysis
- cardiorespiratory monitoring
- ground and air transport of the critically ill
- anaesthesia assistance
- cardiopulmonary resuscitation
- respiratory care equipment maintenance and repair
HOSPITAL AREAS REQUIRING OUR SERVICES
- Adult/child/newborn medical and surgical intensive care
- emergency department
- labour and delivery (mother and newborn)
- medical and surgical wards
- anaesthesia department
- pulmonary function laboratory
PRIVATE SECTOR AREAS REQUIRING OUR SERVICES
- patient and care giver education
- sales
- product service
*Photos courtesy of Garrick Kozier
