What is Respiratory Care?

The respiratory therapist treats people with disorders affecting the cardiopulmonary system such as asthma, emphysema, pneumonia, cardiovascular disorders, and trauma. In the hospital setting, the respiratory therapist provides care and life support to patients in the emergency room, intensive care units, general hospital areas, the pulmonary diagnostics laboratory and other specialty areas such as rehabilitation. Patients receiving care from a therapist range in age from the premature infant to the eldest of the elderly. The respiratory professional is also involved in the diagnostic testing of infants, children and adults with varying medical problems including cardiopulmonary diseases and sleep disorders. The AARC web site can provide additional information on the respiratory care profession.

Students in our program are eligible to sit for the CRT exam during the fall semester of their senior year. They are eligible to sit for the registry exam approximately one month after graduating in May. See Admissions for more information on the therapist-level baccalaureate degree program at the University of Kansas Medical Center.