Celebrate Respiratory Care Week!

Learn about one of the best kept secrets in healthcare

Your breathing matters, today and every day! The American Association for Respiratory Care and thousands of respiratory therapists across the nation who care for patients and their families are celebrating and recognizing the role of the respiratory therapist during Respiratory Care Week, October 21–27.  Happy #RCWEEK18!

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When we think of healthcare, we think of doctors and nurses. Anyone who has had routine dental care might also include the dental hygienist. As a profession, respiratory care remains one of the best kept secrets in healthcare. Why?

Breathing is so fundamental, we often take it for granted, that's why. However, for the patient with a chronic lung condition such as emphysema, chronic bronchitis, asthma, or pulmonary fibrosis, breathing requires conscious effort and often dictates the day's activities. In fact, most of the students coming into Parkland College's Respiratory Care program either needed a respiratory therapist, or met a respiratory therapist through a family member who needed a respiratory therapist!

The Parkland College Respiratory Care program prepares future respiratory therapists to provide patient assessment, diagnostic testing, a variety of respiratory treatments, patient education, and life support with mechanical ventilation for patients of all ages. Where will our graduates work? Everywhere.

The respiratory therapist is at the bedside in the emergency department, in the critical care units, on the medical and surgical units, in the home, and in the physician's office. The respiratory therapist will care for patients of all ages, from the neonate born too soon to the oldest of the old. The care they provide may be life-sustaining or may provide symptom relief and comfort.

Respiratory care doesn't have to remain a secret.

Employment opportunities for respiratory therapists remain excellent both locally and nationally.  For more information, please contact Respiratory Care Program Director Midge Seim, RRT-NPS (mseim@parkland.edu).  We would love to share the secret of the possibilities in respiratory care.

[Above: Carle/Uof I medical student listens while a Parkland Respiratory student explains the variety of metered dose and dry powder inhalers for respiratory care.]