Patient safety is the most important consideration in respiratory care and should always be in the forefront of each decision made by the practitioner. It is the responsibility of the RT to ensure the care given to their patients follows the legal and ethical principles as mandated by their regulatory college. It is the RT’s obligation to avoid harm from coming to their patients while actively contributing to their health and wellbeing.
It goes without saying that patient safety and quality care should be top priority for any healthcare practitioner. Every RT is dedicated to providing safe and effective care alongside doctors, nurses and other members of the healthcare team with a common goal of providing positive patient outcomes. Their responsibilities for patient safety include, but are not limited to, assessing the patients oxygen needs, choosing the correct respiratory therapy devices, setting oxygen flow and maintaining prescribed saturation. Continual assessment is required as patients oxygen needs fluctuate.
As new respiratory products are introduced, RTs are challenged to stay up to date on what products are out there to help them keep patients safe.