Future of Respiratory Therapy

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Future of Respiratory Therapy

By entering the field of respiratory therapy, one is entering a growing field of opportunity. There are continually emergent job opportunities in this field whereas there is also a rise of growth in the technology and developments in the field such as medicines, techniques, and other aspects.

Respiratory therapy refers to both a subject area within clinical medicine and to a distinct health care profession. During the 20th century, there were many health care fundamental transformations. Here are 10 possible predictions of what may occur in the future of respiratory care: (1) Less focus on raising PaO2 as a primary goal in managing patients with acute hypoxemic respiratory failure. (2) More attention to the adequacy of tissue oxygenation in such patients, irrespective of PPaO2, and the emergence of “permissive hypoxemia,” analogous to permissive hypercapnia, in managing them. (3)

Smarter monitors that display information less but process it more, while interacting directly with ventilators and other devices to modify therapeutic interventions. (4) Increased use of and expertise with noninvasive ventilation, with a corresponding decrease in intubations and complications, in treating patients with acute exacerbations of COPD. (5) Increased use of triage in the intensive care unit, including earlier determination of the appropriateness of maximal supportive intervention. (6) Greater use of protocols in patient assessment and management, in all clinical settings. (7) Increased awareness of, expertise in, and resources for palliative care, with a more active and acknowledged role for respiratory therapists. (8) Accelerating progress in smoking cessation and prevention, and in early detection and intervention in COPD, led by the respiratory care profession. (9) An increasing presence and impact of respiratory therapists as coordinators and care givers in home care. (10) A continued and enlarging role for the journal RESPIRATORY CARE in disseminating research findings, clinical practice guidelines, protocols, and practical educational materials in all areas of the field.

The future of careers of respiratory therapists is also on the rise. Regardless of which level of education or credentialing one may choose there will be many opportunities within this field of study. The profession has grown quickly since i...

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There is a great future for respiratory therapy. The opportunities for careers are great. They are continually growing, with large incentives for people in the career path. Moreover, research is growing. It is apparent there will be great growth and opportunity for research in the future as far as respiratory therapy. New drugs will be found, new treatments will be accessed, and new equipment will help give support to future problems and will come to the aid of respiratory therapists.

References

Entrez PubMed- Analysis of contemporary and future respiratory therapy.

Retrieved December 15, 2004 from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Job Outlook – American Association of Respiratory Care. Retrieved December 15, 2004

From http://www.aarc.org/career/be_an_rt.asp

Respiratory Therapy : School of Allied Medical Professions. Retrieved December 15,

2004 from http://amp.osu.edu/future/rtherapy.cfm

Roadmap for Medical Research. Retrieved December 15, 2004 from http://

Respiratory-care.advanceweb.com/common/editorial

The Future of Respiratory Care. Retrieved December 15, 2004 from http://

www.rcjournal.com/contents/07.01/07.01.0705.asp

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