Our Approach to Care

Respiratory Care Services, a division of Nursing & Patient Care Services at Massachusetts General Hospital, provides inpatient services to a variety of patients 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to providing care, respiratory therapists serve as consultants to nurses, physicians and other members of the healthcare team. Through research based practice and a commitment to continuing education, the department has remained in the forefront of the profession and continues to set the standards for excellence that are recognized worldwide.

Respiratory Care Services provides services to the full range of patients from neonate to geriatric, with an emphasis on acute and critical care. Services provided include care of the critically-ill patient including adult ventilation, pediatric ventilation and neonatal ventilation. The department also provides nitric oxide administration to both intubated and non-intubated patients. Heliox therapy is used for patients with various types of airway obstruction, and high frequency ventilation is provided for adults, pediatric and neonates.

Our Staff

Respiratory therapists at Mass General participate in the management of hyperbaric oxygen therapy for patients with carbon monoxide inhalation, problem wounds and other ailments and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation is provided for over one thousand patients per year. Other services include asthma education, bronchoscopy assistance, and aerosolized antibiotic administration. In the neonatal and pediatric intensive care units respiratory therapists manage extra-corporeal life support, surfactant delivery, and high-risk transport of pediatric and neonatal patients.

At Mass General, respiratory therapists are an integral part of the patient’s care team and provide input and recommendations in managing the ventilator as well as all other aspects of respiratory care.

All newly hired therapists complete a 12-week orientation, consisting of a combination of clinical and classroom time.