Respiratory Care Practioners are important members of the critical care team in hospital Intensive Care Units and Emergency Transport Teams. Practioners utilize mechanical ventilators and monitoring equipment to support breathing in patients who have sustained life-threatening illness or injury. Individuals trained in this field will assist the physician in the determination of the type and extent of disease and monitor the responsiveness to a particular treatment regimen.
This, like all medical professions, require individuals who are concerned with the welfare of each patient as an individual. The Respiratory Care profession is concerned with assessment, diagnosis, and management of patients with cardiopulmonary diseases and abnormalities. Practioners within this field can work in a variety of arenas including: hospitals, physician clinics, home-care settings, and medical sales, as well as, providing patient and community education. Sophisticated equipment is used in the treatment of such lung disorders as asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, and bronchitis.