Respiratory Therapists Are in Short Supply

Often previously underrepresented in the discussion of critical care workforce,  respiratory therapists became front and center in the COVID pandemic.  As satellite ICUs were stood up in parking lots, garages, general hospital wards, and other non-traditional environments, the fleet of respiratory therapists was increasingly strained.  Prior to COVID, there was a general shortage of trained and credentialed respiratory therapists, and COVID highlighted the consequences of not having an adequate workforce.  The speaker will address the current status of the respiratory therapist workforce, and discuss challenges and opportunities facing the profession of respiratory therapy in the post-COVID era.

Presentations in this session:
Pediatric ICU beds, a limited resource under strain - Julia Heneghan, MD
Number of beds doesn't matter if there are no nurses to care for patients - Elizabeth Bridges, CCNS, MSN, PhD, RN
Respiratory therapists are in short supply - Ivan Garcia