The Respiratory  Care Profession

A person can live without food for a few weeks and without water for a few days. But if someone stops breathing for more than a few minutes, death will result. Whenever the breath of life is at risk, the respiratory therapist is called upon to intervene. Respiratory therapists, also known as respiratory care practitioners (RCPs), specialize in the prevention, diagnosis, treatment, management and rehabilitation of people with breathing disorders.

Patients treated by respiratory care practitioners range from premature infants to the aged. Respiratory care practitioners can be found working in a variety of settings from the hospital to the home.