November 10, 2006
by Jessica Santina
Local Education Columnist
According to the American Lung Association, 20.5 million Americans had asthma in 2004, and smoking-related diseases result in about 438,000 deaths in this country every year. With a degree in respiratory therapy, you can help.
The fact that 20.9 percent of adults--and 22 percent of high schoolers--in the U.S. are smokers means that these diseases will continue to claim lives and require treatment. Add to that the prevalence of asthma, air pollution, and respiratory diseases like pneumonia, and you'll see why the field of respiratory therapy is growing rapidly.
What is Respiratory Therapy?
Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat patients with breathing or other cardiopulmonary (heart and lung) disorders. These healthcare practitioners may treat anyone from premature infants to the elderly. They may administer emergency care to heart attack or stroke victims. They may even help to conduct healthcare or disease prevention efforts and sleep studies.
The Bureau of Labor Statistics says the aging baby boomer population and the advent of rapidly advancing medical technology will lead to great job growth in this field. And this healthcare field offers quite a return on your investment: it takes only a two- or four-year medical degree in respiratory therapy to begin working, and the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC) projects an average salary of over $56,000 per year.
Earn Your Medical Degree in DaytonHealthcare is one of Dayton, Ohio's fastest-growing industries. The Dayton Business Journal recently reported that PriMed Physicians plans to open a $1.9 million office in Dayton. Two local hospitals have multi-million dollar expansion plans scheduled for next year, not to mention the new outpatient and emergency-room facility just south of downtown, and the nearby Sleep Management Institute's sleep clinic in nearby Springboro. Respiratory therapists will be urgently needed to fill positions in these locations.
If you're pursuing a degree in respiratory therapy, you can breathe easier knowing you have a promising future in Dayton.
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About the Author
Jessica Santina is a freelance writer with a background in media and marketing. She also teaches first-year writing courses at the University of Nevada, Reno.
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