Respiratory Care

Each of our Registered Respiratory Therapists and Certified Respiratory Therapy Technicians who evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders are licensed by the Alabama State Board of Respiratory Therapy. 

Practicing under the direction of a physician, respiratory therapists assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care therapeutic treatments and diagnostic procedures. Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat all types of patients, ranging from premature infants whose lungs are not fully developed to elderly people whose lungs are diseased.

To evaluate patients, respiratory therapists interview them, perform limited physical examinations, and conduct diagnostic tests.

Diagnostic Tests Performed by the Respiratory Care Department includes:

• Pulmonary Function Tests
   o Bedside
   o Basic
   o Pre and Post Bronchodilator
• Bronchoscopy (Therapeutic and Diagnostic)
• Arterial Blood Gases
• Arterial Co-Oximetry
• Peak Flow for Asthma Assessment and Management
• Mechanical Ventilator Weaning Assessment Parameters

To treat patients, respiratory therapists use oxygen and oxygen mixtures along with other treatment(s) to improve lung health.

Therapeutic Treatments performed by the Respiratory Care Department includes:

• Oxygen Therapy
• Medication Administration using nebulizer or metered dose inhaler (MDI)
• Medication delivery using positive pressure devices to assist with lung expansion and medication delivery.
• Chest Physical Therapy
• Flutter Valves
• EzPAP to improve lung expansion and function
• CPAP and BiPAP respiratory support
• Mechanical Ventilator management and monitoring
• Mechanical Ventilator Weaning Program

Trinity Medical Center has a medical staff, respiratory care staff and nurses active in the weaning assessment and management of patients requiring mechanical ventilation.  Our goal is to wean patients from the mechanical ventilator as quickly as possible.  Our Ventilator Weaning Program is comprehensive and used throughout the hospital.   Our program has reduced the time spent on a ventilator and in an intensive care unit significantly.  This results in improved patient outcomes and shorter hospital stays.