Small time-wins RTs can bank starting now. By Chris Woodland, B.Sc., RRT, CRE — Director of Respiratory, Southmedic Inc. (Full disclosure—we talk a LOT about our new Oxy2Mask later in this article) RTs are clocking 10–16k steps in a single shift, and a lot of those steps aren’t always patient care—they’re often wasted loops.  Mask swaps.  Equipment runs.  Running to silence the Sat alarm + reapply oxygen in Mr. Jones’ room because he’s thrown his oxygen mask on the floor in frustration… AGAIN! Back-tracking after bad handoffs. It adds up fast. But there are new technologies. Process fixes.  There’s HOPE. In one audit, the average RT lost 16 hours a year just swapping masks. Another unit clawed back 0.2 FTE a week by tightening up their oxygen device workflow. Scale that across a department and you start to see how small, practical changes turn into measurable relief. Meanwhile, on the other side, the workforce crunch is real. Leaders see the shortages; frontline RTs feel the burnout. If more staff aren’t walking in the door, the next best thing is protecting your own minutes—because those minutes compound into hours, shifts, and real FTEs. RTs are being asked to do more withRead More…