The Respiratory Therapy Department at Susan B. Allen specializes in treating respiratory illnesses including chronic lung problems such as asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, and COPD, as well as acute breathing problems associated with serious or life-threatening conditions such as traumatic injury, heart attack, or stroke. Respiratory therapists are experts in managing life support devices, airway management, mechanical ventilation, and other aspects of critical care medicine. Therapists are certified to intubate inpatients and emergency room patients during emergency situations and respond to all CODE and Trauma Team situations.

Respiratory therapists work one-on-one to develop a respiratory care plan that is best suited to each patient's needs. Therapist-driven protocols allow the therapists to make changes in response to the patient's health status within the framework of best practice guidelines for specific treatments post-surgery, for patients on ventilators or for those with COPD, for example. 

Patients may visit the Respiratory Care department when their doctor orders a pulmonary function test (PFT) to rule out various forms of lung disease including pulmonary fibrosis, emphysema, COPD, asthma, chronic bronchitis, or progression of a disease, or to monitor possible medication side effects on the lungs. Testing includes spirometry, diffusion capacity, thoracic gas volume, lung volumes, airway resistance, Methacholine challenge, and disability. 

For more information about respiratory care services offered at Susan B. Allen, please call 316.322.4586.