St. Louis Community College, Forest Park Forest Park Respiratory Therapy and Polysomnography Introduction Respiratory Therapy is an allied health specialty which involves the treatment and evaluation of patients with heart and lung ailments. Respiratory therapists usually administer these services in hospitals under the supervision of physicians and in cooperation with other allied health specialists. A respiratory therapist administers treatment or conducts tests on patients as ordered by the patient's physician.
Respiratory therapists work in almost every hospital unit and in many special laboratories.
They work with all ages of patients, from premature infants to the elderly, and in all areas of care, from intensive, critical care to rehabilitation. Respiratory therapists work closely with nurses and other allied health specialists to provide care to the patient. A respiratory therapist must be a compassionate person who derives personal satisfaction from helping other people in times of crisis. But most of all, a respiratory therapist must care about other people. The humaneness of delivering the patient care is just as important as the competency in applying the technology.