This week Beth Heltzel, RRT, a 2009 graduate from the Respiratory Care program at Carrington College in Phoenix, was quoted in MedPage Today in an article titled “Respiratory Therapists Play Critical Role in COVID-19 Pandemic.”
Respiratory therapists are often overlooked regarding the COVID-19 epidemic, even though they play a critical role in helping to save lives. In addition, their expertise in assessing blood gases, assisting with intubations and bronchoscopies, and specializing in ventilator management often exposes them to the sickest patients and to dangerous aerosolizing procedures.
Heltzel, who normally practices in Phoenix, Arizona, is currently volunteering at a hospital in Long Island, New York, where the demand for ventilator management has increased the workload for many respiratory therapists. And as other healthcare practitioners have noted in the article, the increased demand for respiratory therapists during the pandemic has highlighted an employment shortage that has persisted over the past few years.
As therapists continue to manage and operate the ventilators that are keeping many COVID-19 patients alive, many have recognized an increased public awareness of their profession. This is a good thing for not only their profession, but the general public as well.
MedPage Today is owned by Everyday Health Group, a New York-based digital media company which produces content relating to health and wellness as one of the largest consumer health websites.
Here is a link to the article on MedPage Today: https://www.medpagetoday.com/infectiousdisease/covid19/86302
Learn more about the Respiratory Care program at Carrington College.
