What is a Respiratory Therapist?
Breathing is something we often take for granted—until it becomes difficult. Whether due to asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), lung infections, or even critical health conditions like COVID-19, our ability to breathe impacts every part of life. This is where respiratory therapy and respiratory therapists (RTs) come in. But what exactly do these professionals do, and how do they help people across Canada breathe easier? Let’s take a closer look.
What is Respiratory Therapy?
Respiratory therapy is a specialized healthcare field that focuses on assessing, treating, and managing patients with breathing or cardiopulmonary (heart and lung) disorders. This involves everything from helping patients manage chronic lung conditions to providing life-saving support for critically ill individuals who can’t breathe on their own.
RTs work with a wide range of people—newborns with underdeveloped lungs, people managing long-term diseases like asthma, and even those recovering from surgery or trauma. Their work is essential in hospitals, clinics, rehabilitation centres, and even at home for patients who require ongoing care.
Who Are Respiratory Therapists?
Respiratory therapists (RTs) are highly trained healthcare professionals who specialize in caring for patients with breathing difficulties or lung diseases. In Canada, RTs are recognized and regulated healthcare practitioners, meaning they must complete an accredited program in respiratory therapy, pass national exams, and maintain their certification to continue practicing.
They work alongside doctors, nurses, and other healthcare professionals, playing a critical role in ensuring that patients receive the respiratory care they need. Whether you have a chronic lung condition, need help with breathing during surgery, or require emergency respiratory support, an RT will likely be involved in your care.
A Brief History of Respiratory Therapy
The field of respiratory therapy emerged in the early 20th century, evolving alongside advances in medical technology. During the 1950s, the role of respiratory therapists grew significantly due to the polio epidemic, which left many patients unable to breathe on their own. This led to the use of mechanical ventilators and the development of specialized skills to manage these life-saving machines.
In Canada, respiratory therapy began to formalize in the 1960s and 1970s, when hospitals recognized the need for professionals trained specifically in breathing management. As the field grew, educational programs and regulatory bodies were established to ensure that respiratory therapists received the specialized training required to handle everything from basic oxygen therapy to critical care support.
The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapists (CSRT) was formed in 1964. It is the national professional association for respiratory therapists in Canada, dedicated to advancing the profession and supporting respiratory therapists in their practice. The CSRT plays an important role in setting standards, providing education, and advocating for the profession across the country.
Today, respiratory therapy is an essential part of healthcare in Canada, with RTs providing both life-saving interventions and long-term care for patients with lung conditions.
What Do Respiratory Therapists Do?
The role of a respiratory therapist is diverse. Depending on the setting (hospital, clinic, or home care), RTs perform a wide range of tasks, such as:
Assessing Patients’ Breathing: One of the first things RTs do is evaluate a patient’s breathing and oxygen levels. They use specialized tools like stethoscopes, blood gas analyzers, and spirometers (which measure lung capacity) to determine how well your lungs are working.
Managing Chronic Respiratory Diseases: If you have a chronic lung condition like asthma, COPD, or cystic fibrosis, an RT can help you manage your symptoms through medication, oxygen therapy, and breathing exercises. They’ll work with you to create a personalized plan to help you stay active and healthy.
Providing Life-Saving Support: In critical care situations, RTs manage ventilators and other life-support equipment to help patients breathe when they’re unable to do so on their own. They’re often at the bedside in the ICU, providing urgent care for people with severe breathing issues due to illness, injury, or surgery.
Assisting with Recovery: After surgery or a severe illness, you may need help regaining your lung function. RTs work with patients during their recovery to improve breathing strength and efficiency through exercises, therapies, and treatments.
Education and Prevention: RTs also play a key role in teaching patients how to prevent flare-ups and manage their lung health at home. This may involve showing patients how to use inhalers correctly, teaching breathing techniques, and educating them about environmental factors that could worsen their condition (like allergens or pollution).
Providing Home Care: For patients who need ongoing support at home—such as those requiring oxygen therapy or ventilator assistance—RTs visit patients and ensure they have the tools and skills to manage their condition in their everyday environment.
Sleep Apnea: RTs often help patients with sleep apnea, a condition where breathing stops and starts during sleep. They may provide equipment like CPAP machines, which help keep your airways open.
Why Respiratory Therapists Matter
RTs don’t just help people breathe—they help people live better lives. By providing critical care and long-term support, they enable patients to stay active, manage their conditions, and prevent complications. They’re an essential part of any healthcare team, offering compassion, skill, and life-saving expertise when it’s needed most.
Final Thoughts
We celebrate Respiratory Therapy week each year in the last week of October. We would like to wish our amazing colleagues a very happy Respiratory Therapy Week!! Thank you for all that you do!!
Respiratory therapy is a vital service for anyone struggling with lung or breathing issues. Whether you need help managing a chronic condition or are recovering from surgery or illness, respiratory therapists across Canada are here to help you breathe easier. These dedicated professionals ensure that patients receive the care, support, and education they need to live their lives to the fullest—one breath at a time.
Resources:
The Canadian Society of Respiratory Therapy. Why Respiratory Therapists are essential across our healthcare system: https://www.csrt.com/rt-profession/
The BC Society of Respiratory Therapists. The RT Profession: https://bcsrt.com/careers/the-rt-profession/
Thompson Rivers University, Respiratory Therapy Program: https://www.tru.ca/science/departments/respiratory-therapy.html