Respiratory Care Department

The Respiratory Care department at St. John’s Mercy Medical Center offers a highly skilled team of respiratory care practitioners both in the hospital setting and for outpatient services and tests. These highly motivated individuals assist physicians in the diagnosis, treatment and promotion of the well being of patients with respiratory and associated disorders. This includes patients with chronic lung problems, such as asthma, bronchitis and emphysema, as well as heart attack and accident victims, people with cystic fibrosis, lung cancer or AIDS.

Respiratory care practitioners work in all areas of the hospital including the operating room, nursery, critical care areas and the emergency department seeing a wide variety of patients from newborn premature infants to the elderly. They provide oxygen therapy, monitor and assess different modes of treatment for lung conditions, and teach individuals how to effectively use medications to reduce breathlessness and/or how to take control of their asthma. They also monitor and maintain special equipment used to assess heart and lung function, provide emergency services if someone stops breathing, as well as set-up, monitor and adjust life support equipment for patients.