Services & Specialties

Respiratory Care

When a child in our hospital experiences breathing difficulties / respiratory issues due to an injury, surgical procedure or medical condition, staff with the Division of Respiratory Care are here to help.

Help Available Around the Clock

Children receiving care at Cincinnati Children’s get the extra advantage of having our respiratory experts available around the clock.  Our respiratory care staff works with departments throughout the hospital and is available whenever patients experience breathing difficulties.

Conditions We Treat

Our patients range in age from newborns through adulthood. We specialize in treating conditions such as:

• Asthma
• Cystic fibrosis
• Pulmonary complications following surgery
• Airway abnormalities, and
• Cardiac malformations

Our staff serves as a vital member of the trauma and resuscitation teams. Our division is equipped to provide not only diagnostic testing and evaluation but patient and family education, as well.

What is the respiratory care scope of practice?

Clinical respiratory therapists at Cincinnati Children’s  have completed two to four years of college  and are fully credentialed by the National Board for Respiratory Care and licensed by the State of Ohio.

Ohio  law allows respiratory care practitioners, performing upon the prescription and under the supervision of a physician licensed to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery, to render to individuals, groups, organizations or the public any service involving the:

• Evaluation of cardiopulmonary function
• Treatment of cardiopulmonary impairment
• Assessment of treatment effectiveness
• Care of patients with deficiencies and abnormalities associated with the cardiopulmonary system

What does the practice of respiratory care include?

• Obtaining, analyzing, testing, measuring and monitoring blood and gas samples in the determination of cardiopulmonary parameters and related physiologic data, including flows, pressures and volumes, and the use of equipment employed for this purpose
• Administering, monitoring, recording the results of, and instructing in the use of medical gases, aerosols, and bronchopulmonary hygiene techniques, including drainage, aspiration, and sampling and applying, maintaining and instructing in the use of artificial airways, ventilators and other life support equipment employed in the treatment of cardiopulmonary impairment and provided in collaboration with other licensed healthcare professionals responsible for providing care
• Performing cardiopulmonary resuscitation and respiratory rehabilitation techniques
• Administering medications for the testing or treatment of cardiopulmonary impairment upon the prescription and under the supervision of a physician licensed to practice medicine and surgery or osteopathic medicine and surgery