Respiratory specialists are medical professionals who specialize in treating people with pulmonary diseases. Doctors and nurses, as well as technicians trained to perform specific procedures, such as diagnostic tests used to collect information about respiratory conditions, can all work as these types of specialists. Basic medical training is usually required before working as a respiratory specialist, followed by advanced training in the management of pulmonary conditions.
Many hospitals keep respiratory specialists on staff to help patients with breathing problems. Patients in intensive care and those with certain chronic conditions are more likely to develop respiratory complications. As a result of the patient’s stress, hospitalization can exacerbate respiratory problems, and a respiratory specialist can be part of the care team working to keep the patient as healthy as possible. If a patient is admitted to the hospital with a respiratory problem, such as asthma, the specialist may be the team’s lead doctor.
Other respiratory specialists may practice in their own offices. Because some sleep disorders are linked to apnea and other breathing problems, sleep clinics frequently collaborate with these specialists, who can help identify a patient’s specific condition and make treatment recommendations. Depending on their situation, people may be referred to such specialists or may seek appointments on their own.
When a patient presents with a respiratory problem, respiratory specialists can be called in to help. They may conduct a patient interview, perform some lung function tests, and order medical imaging studies to look inside the patient’s lungs to learn more about the patient. Respiratory specialists can use this information to make treatment recommendations, including both short and long-term plans for managing respiratory conditions. Treatments for apnea can include the use of CPAP machines or the administration of medications to control respiratory function.
Acute and chronic conditions can be treated by these medical professionals. They can also look after patients while they’re in the hospital, monitoring their lung function and implementing interventions if they’re needed or deemed necessary. Because intubation and anesthesia delivery can sometimes cause respiratory complications, respiratory specialists frequently visit patients after surgery. The specialist evaluates lung function, gives the patient advice on how to monitor and improve lung function, and ensures that any findings are documented for the patient’s file.