Description
Assess, treat, and care for patients with breathing disorders. Assume primary responsibility for all respiratory care modalities, including the supervision of respiratory therapy technicians. Initiate and conduct therapeutic procedures; maintain patient records; and select, assemble, check, and operate equipment. [SOC] Cases of occupational asthma were due to an unidentified agent. [Malo] A cross-sectional study of 2086 respiratory therapists showed a prevalence of physician diagnosed asthma of 7.4% in RTs and 2.6% in referents. The authors concluded: strong association between working as an RT and the subsequent development of asthma. (Christiani & Kern, 1993)