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Thanks to the team of therapists in the Department of Respiratory Care, patients with respiratory disorders receive top-notch treatment and care. BWH last week honored the team during National Respiratory Care Week.
Under director Paul Nuccio, RRT, FAARC, respiratory therapists monitor patients’ breathing and provide mechanical ventilation to adults and newborns with breathing disorders. Respiratory therapists recently have expanded their services to care for the increasing population of adult patients with cystic fibrosis. They work closely with the Pulmonary Medical and Surgical divisions and the Newborn Medicine Service, spending the majority of their time with patients in the intensive care units.
“We are part of an interdisciplinary team,” Michael Jackson, RRT-NPS, clinical educator, said. “Therapists apply complex life support technology with hands-on care to high-risk patients.”
In addition to patient care, the Department of Respiratory Care is committed to teaching students from local colleges. Each year, dozens of students shadow respiratory therapists at BWH to learn about the profession first-hand. This year, many students participated in the National Respiratory Care Week events at BWH, which included a series of educational presentations and a breakfast and lunch for staff. Also during the week, Gerald Weinhouse, MD, new medical director of adult Respiratory Care Services, and Robert Insoft, MD, new medical director of newborn Respiratory Care Services, introduced themselves to staff and shared their goals for the Department of Respiratory Care.