Respiratory Care is a health specialty involving the treatment, management, control, diagnostic evaluation, and care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities of the cardiopulmonary system. These patients may be found in the newborn nursery, the surgical and medical units, the emergency department, the outpatient department, intensive and critical care units, in extended care and skilled nursing facilities, and at home.
Respiratory Therapy has been around in many forms since the 1940's. We have been called oxygen technicians, inhalation therapists, respiratory therapists, and respiratory care practitioners. It is only within the last 15 years that respiratory care has taken its place as an essential and non-replaceable part of the health care delivery system.