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son’s breathing that a doctor or nurse may overlook. During these conversations, RTs can identify significant illnesses, a family medical history, or past illnesses that a patient may have had that may be contributing to her current condition.

Conducting an Assessment

Once the RT has taken a patient’s history and asked all the pertinent questions, it is time to conduct an assessment. RTs may use equipment to

Respiratory therapists use a variety of tools to help patients breathe easier.

measure a patient’s lung capacity, respiration rate, and oxygen levels in his blood. They will make note in the patient’s chart of what they find and use this information as a baseline for treatment. Since medical technology is constantly advancing, the process of assessing patients is also constantly evolving. It is an RT’s responsibility to stay up-to-date on all the latest pro- tocols to give their patients the best possible care. Diagnosis Once RTs have gathered all the necessary information, they are able to make a diagnosis. The patient’s diagnosis will largely determine the types of treatment she receives. The diagnosis must be accurate and supported by appropriate information

What Do Respiratory Therapists Do?

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