The Respiratory Therapy Department at Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems is organized and designed to provide a comprehensive program of cardiopulmonary services to both inpatients and outpatients with known or suspected pulmonary or cardiovascular pathologies.

Respiratory therapy is an allied health profession, specializing in the assessment and treatment of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. These include chronic lung problems (e.g. asthma, bronchitis, emphysema, COPD), and more acute multi-systemic problems stemming from other health conditions such as heart attack, stroke, or trauma as well as complications at birth. Respiratory therapists are specialists in airway management, mechanical ventilation, and critical care medicine.

Respiratory therapists (RTs) work closely with other medical staff such as physicians, nurses, speech pathologists, etc. Respiratory therapists can be found in hospital intensive care units and delivery rooms. Airway and ventilator management as well as clinical assessment are the main clinical roles and RTs are an essential part of the Code Blue (Cardiac Arrest) team.

Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems has ten respiratory therapists on staff: three Registered Respiratory Therapists, seven Certified Respiratory Therapists, and one Certified Pulmonary Function Technician.

All respiratory therapy services at Pemiscot Memorial Health Systems are provided by respiratory care practitioners credentialed by the State of Missouri. The scope of care provided by the respiratory therapists (RTs) encompasses activities in diagnostic evaluation, therapy, and education of the patient, family, and public.

Diagnostic services include:

• Capnography
• Pulse Oximetry (sPo2) –Non-invasive method of determining the approximate oxygen saturation of hemoglobin
• Patient Assessment
• Baseline Pulmonary Function Testing (PFT) – Used to evaluate the volume and flow of air from the lungs
• Electrocardiogram (EKG) – Measure heart rhythm
• Electroencephalography (EEG) – Measures global neural activity
• Holter Monitoring– Continuous monitoring of the electrical activity of the heart muscle for 24 hours

For more information please contact Julie Carter, Respiratory Therapy Director, at (573) 359-1372 Ext. 493.