Respiratory Therapy

Finger Lakes Health's respiratory therapists and respiratory therapy technicians evaluate, treat, and care for patients with breathing and other lung and heart disorders.  Our respiratory care practitioners provide diagnostic evaluation, therapy, and education of the patient and family members. They work directly with physicians, nurses and other healthcare workers to provide for a patient's care. Respiratory Therapist are key members of the critical care team within the hospital, managing ventilators and other respiratory equipment to help stabilize patients with pulmonary conditions.

Respiratory practitioners may conduct diagnostic tests, by evaluating a patients' breathing capacity and determining the concentration of oxygen or other gases in patients' blood.   To evaluate a patient's lung capacity, respiratory therapists have the patient breath into an instrument that measures the volume and flow of air during inhalation and exhalation. By comparing the reading with normal values for the patient's age, height, weight, and sex, respiratory therapists can provide information that helps determine whether the patient has any lung problems.

To treat patients, respiratory therapists may administer oxygen, blended oxygen mixtures or aerosols-liquid medications suspended in a gas that forms a mist which is inhaled-and teach patients how to inhale the aerosol properly to ensure its effectiveness.