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What IS Respiratory Care?

Simply put, Respiratory Care is the health care specialty responsible for the treatment and care of the lungs!  People working in this profession are known as Respiratory Therapists (RTs).   These professionals have extensive knowledge of the lungs and heart including the diseases that affect these organs as well as the therapeutic treatments to battle these diseases.

A Typical Day In the Life Of A Respiratory Therapist...

A typical day in the life of a respiratory therapist might include:

1.  Diagnosing lung and breathing disorders and recommending treatment methods.

2.  Interviewing patients and doing chest physical exams to determine what kind of therapy is best for
     their condition.

3.  Managing life support machines (known as mechanical ventilators) and artificial airway devices for patients who can’t breathe
     normally on their own.

4.  Analyzing breath, tissue, and blood specimens to determine levels of oxygen and other gases.

5.  Consulting with physicians to recommend a change in therapy, based on their evaluation of the
     patient.

6.  Responding to "Code Blue" or other urgent calls for care.

7.  Educating patients and families about lung disease so they can maximize their recovery.

8.  Interacting with a wide variety of patients from the smallest babies weighing less than 2 lbs to a 40 year old car accident victim to a
     75 year old patient with pneumonia.


AARC "Life & Breath" Video
The American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) has put together a terrific video review of the Respiratory Therapy profession. Click Here to view the video!


Sound interesting?
Visit the AARC's "What Is An RT" webpage for more information that can help you decide if Respiratory Care is a career for YOU! 
Click Here!

The Pennsylvania Society for Respiratory Care updates its look to emphasize its mission to Respiratory Therapists in our Commonwealth: Education, Research, Leadership.

Phoenixville, PA. – March 8, 2024– The Pennsylvania Society for Respiratory Care, Inc. (PSRC), the premier advocate for respiratory therapists and respiratory therapy professionals, unveiled their refreshed logo exemplifying their core values: Education, Research, and Leadership.   

Eileen Censullo, President of the PSRC and leader at the American Heart Association, remarked, “Changing our logo was important to me and the board to freshen the look and emphasize what we focus on as Respiratory Therapists as a board and as practitioners in the state. Respiratory Therapists are the premier leaders in Respiratory education, research, and leadership in the state of PA. We held a contest in the PSRC membership to submit logos and the logo was voted on by the membership. It is crisp and clean. “

 

Jerin Juby, Vice-President of the PSRC and a faculty member at Thomas Jefferson University, said, “We have been evolving, and it was time for us to refresh our looks. And furthermore, we asked our members to design the logo, which not only highlighted talent but also supported a refresh of our vision and mission amongst our members. We hold utmost pride in representing one of the most amazing professions in healthcare.”  

 

About the Pennsylvania Society for Respiratory Care (PSRC):

The PSRC is a leading state affiliate of the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), serving all respiratory therapists and respiratory professionals in the Pennsylvania Commonwealth.  Its purpose is “to advance the art and science of respiratory care through educational publications and programs for its members, other medical professionals, and the general public and to promote pulmonary health and disease prevention."

​

Pennsylvania has almost 6,000 RTs (6th nationally) caring for those with acute and complex respiratory diseases.  Their expertise and dedication provide the very best patient outcomes.  The RTs of PA are considered one of the best in the US. 

The PSRC Board of Directors is comprised of key opinion leaders in the field of respiratory care.  Education, Research, and Leadership experts make up the board and drive best practices in PA and set the example across the US.

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