Download Respiratory Therapy: Your Plan for Better

FACT SHEET FOR PATIENTS AND FAMILIES
Respiratory Therapy: Your Plan for Better Breathing
What is respiratory therapy?
Respiratory therapy is medical care for breathing and the
lungs. Respiratory therapy services include numerous
treatments and techniques to help prevent, diagnose, and
treat breathing problems. They include:
•• Breathing techniques to ease shortness of breath or move
mucus from your lungs
•• Oxygen therapy to make sure your body’s tissues and cells
get the oxygen they need to work properly
•• Inhaled medications to treat disease or ease symptoms
•• Airway monitoring and management to make sure you’re
breathing well
•• Pulmonary function tests to measure your lung volume
and ability to move air in and out
•• Collecting blood or sputum samples to diagnose or
monitor a lung problem
•• Bronchoscopy to help your doctor see into your lungs or
get a tissue sample
•• Education about your lung problem and how to follow
your providers’ advice for managing it
Why do I need it?
Patients need respiratory therapy for a range of reasons.
They may have breathing problems because of a disease such
as asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),
or cystic fibrosis. They may have had an accident (such as
smoke inhalation) or an illness (such as pneumonia or
bronchiolitis). They may need monitoring after a surgery or
procedure. Or, they may need a lung test that can help their
doctor assess their condition.
Who provides it?
In many medical settings, a respiratory therapist will
provide the services you need. This therapist is specially
trained to help with lung problems. He or she works
under the direction of your doctor and with other
members of your healthcare team. At an Intermountain
facility, you can identify respiratory therapists by their
dark-green-colored scrub uniforms.
Respiratory therapists work in all areas of a hospital —
from the emergency department to the newborn and
adult intensive care units (the NICU and ICU). They also
provide services at specialty sleep labs, as part of medical
homecare visits, and in outpatient facilities.
Your respiratory therapist will follow the plan of care
outlined by your doctor. Your plan may include a variety
of therapeutic, diagnostic, and education interventions.
The back of this handout outlines the respiratory therapy
services included in your plan of care. Review it with your
respiratory therapist and ask any questions you may have.
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My Plan for respiratory therapy
The following are recommended or scheduled as part of your plan of care.
Breathing techniques:
Oxygen therapy
Device(s) for delivering
inhaled medications:
Airway and/or ventilator
monitoring and management
(care for ventilators, trachs, airway tubes,
and other artificial airways)
Nebulizer
Other therapies:
Metered dose inhaler (MDI)
Dry powder inhaler (DPI)
Diskus inhaler
Tests:
Autohaler
Pulmonary function tests
Other:
Collection of blood or sputum samples
Bronchoscopy
Other:
E
L
F
NTR
L
O
•
Symbicort
M
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
E
• MOS
•
Spiriva
O
FO
Pulmicort
•
LY
Flovent
D AI
C
Asmanex
R
TE
R
Advair
Asthma education
O FTE N F
•
•
As your daily controller or maintenance medication,
E L IE
a corticosteroid or anti-inflammatory:
T
OR
FO
Q UI
Education and home rehab services:
Tobacco cessation education and support
O
ON R
T
C
R
CK
Other:
Sleep apnea testing
US
F
FO
D AI
•
Combivent
P O R A RY
US
FO
•
R
M
•
LY
Albuterol (Proventil, Ventolin, Duoneb)
Atrovent
TE
E L IE
R•
•
R
T
E
O FT N F
O
R
CK
As your quick-relief or “rescue”
medication, a bronchodilator:
Q UI
• MOS
Medications:
P O R A RY
(COPD) education
Obstructive sleep apnea education
Medications and breathing device: how to’s
Respiratory care discharge plan
Pulmonary rehabilitation services
If you have a ventilator, see also Intermountain’s
fact sheet, Ventilator-Associated Pneumonia
(VAP). This handout explains the measures your
respiratory care team takes to prevent VAP.
© 2014 Intermountain Healthcare. All rights reserved. The content presented here is for your information only. It is not a substitute for professional medical advice, and it
should not be used to diagnose or treat a health problem or disease. Please consult your healthcare provider if you have any questions or concerns. More health information is
available at intermountainhealthcare.org. Patient and Provider Publications 801-442-2963 FS424 - 06/14 Also available in Spanish.
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