What is Respiratory Care?
When you can’t breath, nothing else matters. All of us take breathing for granted, but for those who are having difficulty breathing, Respiratory Care is there to help.
Respiratory Care is a team of credentialed, specially trained professionals (Respiratory Care Practitioners) that deliver a variety of care under the direction of a physician to patients with cardio pulmonary disorders.
Respiratory Care at St. Elizabeth Medical Center
As a Respiratory Therapist at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, you are part of a team of healthcare practitioners that deliver the highest quality of care in the Northern Kentucky and the Greater Cincinnati area. We emphasize a high level of assessment, evaluation and critical thinking employing these skills while working closely with the physicians and nurses in the diagnosis and treatment of cardiopulmonary disorders.
Our highly skilled, licensed Respiratory Therapists provide comprehensive inpatient and outpatient Respiratory Services for patients of all ages, ranging from newborn infants to the elderly, 24 hour per day, 7 days a week. We are constantly building strong relationships with our coworkers all members of the healthcare team.
Respiratory Care Department Constantly Growing
The constantly growing Respiratory Care Department is staffed with approximately 40 full and part time Registered and Certified therapists. The management of the Respiratory Care Department starts with the Respiratory Care Director (who also is a licensed Registered Respiratory Therapist) and includes 2 Clinical Supervisors, Management Information Specialist and a Clinical Education Coordinator. Medical direction is provided by 5 Medical Doctors, who are board certified in Pulmonary Medicine and Intensive Care. Rounding out the Respiratory Care team are several Respiratory Care Students who are utilized as Respiratory Care Assistants practicing under direct supervision and a limited permit.
Respiratory Care Services Offered
Respiratory Care at St. Elizabeth Medical Center offers a wide range of diagnostic and therapeutic procedures for both inpatient and outpatient services. They include:
- Code Team/Rapid Response Team Member
- Pre and post surgical Respiratory Care
- Adult and Infant Mechanical Ventilation
- Arterial Blood Gas Sampling
- Noninvasive Positive Pressure Ventilation
- Pneumogram Sleep screening
- Bedside Pulmonary Function Screening
- Airway Management/Intubation
- Patient Education
- Community Education
- A Variety of intermittent Bedside therapy
Variety in the Workplace
The Respiratory Therapist at St. Elizabeth Medical Center covers a variety of inpatient care areas around the clock.
- Medical Intensive Care Unit
- Surgical Intensive Care Unit
- Cardiac Surgery Recovery Unit
- Emergency Department
- Special Care Nursery
- Transitional Care Units
- Medical/Surgical Units
- Post Anesthesia Care Unit
Top of the Line Technology
Respiratory Care Practitioners at St. Elizabeth Medical Center work with state of the art equipment and mechanical ventilators side by side with talented professionals. Some of the equipment utilized by our Respiratory Therapists is:
- CliniVision Documentation System
- Puritan Bennett 840 (adult and neo-mode)
- Respironics Esprit
- Bio Med IC-2A and Crossvent 3+
- Respironics NICO2
- Aerabella Infant Nasal CPAP
- Respironics Vision NIPPV
Top of the Line Respiratory Care Department
HealthGrades has ranked St. Elizabeth among the top 5% in the nation for overall Pulmonary Services for 3 years in a row.
St. Elizabeth has been given a 5 star rating for overall Pulmonary Services for 3 years in a row and specifically 5 star rating in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease and Community Acquired Pneumonia care by HealthGrades.
Helpful Websites
American Association for Respiratory Care
American Lung Association of Kentucky
Cincinnati State — Respiratory Care
Kentucky Board of Respiratory Care
Visit the following websites for more information on Respiratory Care and how to become a Respiratory Care Practitioner.
