The Cardiopulmonary Department is staffed around-the-clock by Respiratory Therapists (RTs), also know as Respiratory Care Practitioners. RTs are allied health specialists, licensed by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and the state of Idaho, who evaluate, treat and care for patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary disorders. They are an integral member of the health care team that provides patient-focused care.

RTs evaluate patients by interviewing them and performing diagnostic procedures as ordered by the physician. Tests that may be useful are arterial blood gases, pulmonary function tests or spirometry. These procedures provide information that is compared to reference ranges and provided to the physician for diagnosis.

RTs are responsible for a wide variety of treatments, including the provision of oxygen by various methods, oxygen monitoring, bronchodilator therapy, secretion clearance techniques, lung re-expansion techniques and airway management through invasive and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation. Care is individualized to the patient and focuses on education, assessment and reassessment.

At Gritman Medical Center RTs also provide electrocardiograms and electroencephalograms. These procedures measure the electrical activity of the heart (EKG) and the brain (EEG). Hands-on training is provided for these procedures with oversight by the cardiologist and neurologist.