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Respiratory
Therapy--More About the Program
Be
in Demand!
The demand for respiratory therapists is expected to continue to
increase. The United States Bureau of Labor Statistics projects “employment of
respiratory therapists to increase much faster than the average for all
occupations through the year 2006.” Respiratory care is listed as one of the
fastest-growing professions, and the need for respiratory therapists is expected
to increase 42.6 percent through 2008. This increase in demand is expected
because of substantial growth of the elderly population, and increases in the
numbers of patients with asthma and chronic lung disease.
About
the Career
Respiratory care is the allied health profession that cares for patients
with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system. The
respiratory therapist sees a diverse group of patients ranging from newborn
and pediatric patients to adults and the elderly. Disease states or conditions
often requiring respiratory care include asthma, emphysema, chronic obstructive
lung disease, pneumonia, cystic fibrosis, infant respiratory distress syndrome,
and conditions brought on by shock, trauma or postoperative surgical
complications.
Respiratory
therapists are also involved in many specialty areas in the hospital such as
newborn labor and delivery, neonatal and pediatric intensive care units,
pulmonary function laboratory, sleep laboratory, adult intensive care units,
extra-corporeal membrane oxygenation, and EKG testing. In addition to hospitals,
the respiratory therapist delivers respiratory care in the home, rehabilitation
agencies, nursing homes, outpatient clinics, and physician offices.
For
More Information
If you need additional information or would like to schedule an appointment or
talk to current students/practitioners, contact Laurie McKeown, program coordinator
at (708) 608-4124 or
mckeownl2@morainevalley.edu.
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