Tuesday, April 23, 2024 | St. Lawrence County, NY
MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital is marking what the American Association for Respiratory Care calls "National Respiratory Care Week," Oct. 23 to 29. This year’s theme at MMH is “Respiratory …
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MASSENA -- Massena Memorial Hospital is marking what the American Association for Respiratory Care calls "National Respiratory Care Week," Oct. 23 to 29.
This year’s theme at MMH is “Respiratory Therapists: Real Life Heroes.”
“We treat every kind of patient, from a newborn delivery to a geriatric patient seeing their last breathes,” said Brittany Rowe, MMH respiratory therapy and pulmonary clinic supervisor. “We are in the emergency room for patients ranging from a motor vehicle accident to a stroke. We do basic rounds therapy on patient units and assist doctors and nurses in diagnosing patients with respiratory issues. We really do see all aspects of medicine on a daily basis for the most part.”
Robin Debien, Zach Loveless, Sandy Brault, Cheryl Ruest, Mona Langer and Rowe make up the MMH respiratory therapy team.
“I choose this career field because of the difference,” Rowe said in a prepared statement. “One minute you could be in a delivery room assisting with a newborn then you do something completely different in the emergency room. You are never in just one spot; you are all over the place helping people.”
According to the Occupation Outlook Handbook, Growth in the middle-aged and elderly population will lead to an increased incidence of respiratory conditions such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and pneumonia. These respiratory disorders can permanently damage the lungs or restrict lung function, according to a news release from MMH.
The job’s main duties include responding to urgent calls, educating patients about lung disease and consulting with physicians to change or modify therapy. Dealing with these critical situations and working with physicians to help improve the quality of life of a patient is the main reason why Rowe said she chose this career field.
“I’m an adrenaline junkie, I like the critical situations,” Rowe said. “I really enjoy when we as respiratory therapists need to be needed and in situations when people depend on us.”
More information about "Respiratory Care Week" and the career field itself is on the American Association for Respiratory Care website, www.aarc.org.
