Chest Physio ???!!!!! in the USA

[Fyzzio]

Hi,
I don't quite understand your comments. This is possibly due to the fact that our health system is different.
Could you pls explain what a Respiratory Therapist is? And where the difference to Physiotherapy lies?
Thanks,
Fyzzio

[HoJoOregonPT]

Hi,
I don't quite understand your comments. This is possibly due to the fact that our health system is different.
Could you pls explain what a Respiratory Therapist is? And where the difference to Physiotherapy lies?
Thanks,
Fyzzio

Thanks Fyzzio, PTs in the USA don't have any involvement in respiratory medicine. Instead there is another "professional" group with a 2 year degree that seems to only do nebulizers and pulse oximetry throughout the general hospital and ventillator manipulation and nebs and suctioning in the ICU and CICU. I never see them doing percs and vibes nor postural drainage nor teach patients the FET, Huff and cough technique for mucous clearance. I often feel that patients with bi-basal crackles and audible upper airway congestion could do with those techniques. I never see patient education on on positioning strategies for dyspnoea. I feel the American patient is missing out big time and perhaps they take way longer to get better. So, my question to you, are all the techniques that I learned still in vogue ?
Thanks

[PhysioArgos]

So, my question to you, are all the techniques that I learned still in vogue ?
Thanks

Here, you may have some Greek feedback. In this country Schools are still teaching the "old" set of techniques and these are what students are using during their standard practice. However most of the veterans, base their approach in early mobilisation and in active breathing techniques. We prefer to have well trained patients who are trying to help themselves as much as they can.

Because we luck research so far, we do not have a general direction nor any official guidelines. Thus there are people how are only using the traditional respiratory battery of techniques.