Respiratory Therapy is an allied health specialty concerned with the treatment, management and care of the patient's breathing. A Respiratory Care Practitioner (RCP), also known as a Respiratory Therapist, is a licensed specialist trained in providing care to patients with heart and lung disorders. There are more than 100,000 RCPs in the United States. Respiratory Therapists work in hospitals; transitional care facilities, nursing homes, home health agencies, specialized care hospitals and physician's offices. Patients who receive care from an RCP range in age from newborns to the most senior members of society. Respiratory Care Practitioners are trained in the diagnostic evaluation of lung function and therapeutic procedures that help maintain good lung health.
You can learn more about the profession of Respiratory Therapy by watching the video "Be An RT" or the "Life and Breath" video covering the Respiratory Therapy profession.