National Respiratory Week 2024 is being celebrated from October 20 through 26. This weeklong event was first recognized in December of 1982 when President Ronald Reagan proclaimed National Respiratory Therapy (RT) Week an official national event. Per the Bureau of Labor Statistics, more than 135,000 respiratory therapists are employed in the U.S. in a variety of settings and specialties, including acute care, rehabilitation, sleep medicine, interventional radiology, diagnostics, trauma, transport, and surgery. They care for patients ranging in age from newborns to geriatrics with a variety of pulmonary and lung disorders including ventilator dependency, sleep-disordered breathing, cystic fibrosis, chest trauma, and lung cancer. Madonna’s Director of Respiratory Therapy and the Pulmonary Program Melissa Gulizia says it takes a special person to be a respiratory therapist, and she’s grateful for the Madonna staff who provides world-class care to our patients every day.
Q: What does RT Week mean to you?
A: RT week to me is a time to celebrate and appreciate the wonderful work our respiratory therapists do and the differences they make in their patients’ lives at Madonna and across the world. RT Week allows us to bring light to our profession and to share with others the importance of what we do and why we do it.
Q: Can you talk a little bit about the types of patients we serve and what makes being a respiratory therapist (RT) at Madonna so unique?
A: The respiratory therapy role is quite unique at Madonna. We serve a vast patient population within our core programs, spinal cord injury, brain injury and stroke, but we also serve patients who have lung diseases and everything in between. That is what I appreciate about Madonna is we serve such a diverse population with illnesses, injuries, and age groups. RT’s at Madonna participate in a variety of other tasks that go beyond the typical RT services included elsewhere. We collaborate closely with the interdisciplinary teams and attend team meetings and family meetings. We also participate in recreational activities alongside patients and we work together with therapists and physicians to maximize patient outcomes.
Q: Why is the role RTs play so important for the interdisciplinary team?
A: The respiratory therapist is a vital member of the interdisciplinary team. We have specialized expertise, knowledge, and training in managing those with respiratory conditions. Collaboration within the interdisciplinary teams allows us to put another set of eyes and ears on the patient and work with other team members to understand where we are at and how we are moving forward together, for the best possible outcome for our patients. Respiratory therapy goes beyond managing breathing issues. We truly care about the quality of life our patients have. To be able to think holistically about the care we provide to our patients is something that is important no matter where you work within healthcare.
Q: What makes someone a good RT?
A: Compassion and empathy go a long way with the types of patients we serve. Many patients were not expecting to be in the situation they are in and building a relationship of trust and respect with our patients and families is crucial. Other skills that make a well-rounded RT are someone who loves to learn, can think critically, and can adapt to challenges. Having good teamwork and collaboration with others is key to ensuring we can provide effective patient care and to help our patients and residents have the best possible outcomes.
Q: What does a normal day look like for a Madonna RT?
A: Every day is different. We do have routine tasks to complete like breathing treatments, inhalers, ventilator checks, and other routine tasks, but it’s all the other things we do that provide fluctuation day by day. You can find us educating our patients and families on how to take care of their respiratory conditions at home, taking a patient to a doctor’s appointment, or attending a recreation event to prepare them for getting back into their local communities. We also at times will help doctors with procedures, accompany a patient to radiology, or work together with PT/OT/SLP brainstorming ways to overcome barriers preventing them from meeting their goals.
Q: What makes Madonna’s RTs so good at what they do?
A: We are blessed to have a compassionate department of respiratory therapists. They care so much about the patients and residents we see and want them to succeed in their goals. They are patient and resident-centered and are strong advocates. The hard work and dedication they pour into the care they provide are inspiring.
Q: As the director of our respiratory therapy and pulmonary programs, do you have a message to your staff for this week?
A: Thank you for all you do to ensure our patients are well taken care of. Thank you for pushing our patients and residents to the best of their ability, being a listening ear to them and their families, and ensuring that we continue to provide the top-notch care. Your unwavering dedication, resilience, and compassion that you show up with day in and day out do not go unnoticed. I am grateful for each and every one of the staff within our department and appreciate everyone’s hard work.
For more information about our respiratory therapy team, visit our pulmonary program page.