Pioneers & Discoveries
Who is considered the “father of medicine”?
Hippocrates
What was the primary duty of the first inhalation therapists?
To provide oxygen therapy
What was the name of the first professional organization for the field of respiratory care?
Inhalation Therapy Association (ITA)
What does the word “credentialing” mean?
Recognition that an individual has met a standard of knowledge or skill, often through exams or certification.
What are the expected roles of a respiratory therapist today?
Patient assessment, diagnostic testing, therapeutic care, disease management, and emergency response.
Which chemist, in 1662, described the relationship between gas, volume, and pressure?
Robert Boyle
When did the designation “respiratory therapist” become standard?
1974
In which year did the American Association for Respiratory Therapy (AART) change its name to the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC)?
1982
What does the term “licensure” mean in respiratory care?
The process by which a governmental agency grants permission to practice as a respiratory therapist.
Where are the majority of respiratory therapists employed?
Hospitals/acute care settings.
Who discovered oxygen in 1774 and described it as “dephlogisticated air”?
Joseph Priestley
What device, first introduced in the 1960s, allowed precise delivery of 24%, 28%, 35%, and 40% oxygen?
The Venti-mask
What organization reviews and accredits respiratory care educational programs in the U.S.?
What organization certifies respiratory therapists through voluntary certification and registration?
National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC)
What are some predicted growing trends in respiratory care for the future?
Greater focus on outpatient care, disease prevention, telemedicine, home care, and evidence-based practice.
Who was the first scientist to suggest, in 1865, that microorganisms caused many diseases?
Louis Pasteur
Which two names are linked to the development of the iron lung, widely used during the 1950s polio epidemic?
Drinker and Emerson
What federal agency oversees the Medicare program?
CMS
Who is professionally responsible for the quality of patient care in the respiratory department?
The Medical Director of Respiratory Care
Due to the aging population, what will be a primary focus of future respiratory therapists?
Managing chronic cardiopulmonary diseases (like COPD, heart failure).
Which scientist discovered the X-ray and opened the door to modern radiology?
Wilhelm Roentgen
When was positive end expiratory pressure (PEEP) first introduced to treat acute respiratory distress syndrome?
1967
Who is The Joint Commission, and what is their role in healthcare?
An independent, non-profit organization that accredits and certifies healthcare organizations, focusing on quality and patient safety
How is competency to practice respiratory care determined?
By demonstrating skills, knowledge, and professional behavior—often assessed through exams, continuing education, and clinical evaluations.
According to the AARC’s “2015 and Beyond” project, what are the seven major competencies required by respiratory therapists?
Diagnostics
Disease management
Evidence-based care
Patient assessment
Leadership
Emergency & critical care
Therapeutics