The Role of Respiratory Therapists during COVID-19

Douglas S. Laher, MBA, CAE, RRT, FAARC, Chief Operating Officer American Association for Respiratory Care, provided an overview of the AARC and their role during the pandemic. J. Brady Scott, PhD, RRT, RRT-ACCS, AE-C, FAARC, FCCP, Director of Clinical Education, Associate Professor, Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences, Division of Respiratory Care, College of Health Sciences, and David L. Vines, PhD, MHS, RRT, FAARC, FCCP, Chairperson, Academic Program Director, Associate Professor, Department of Cardiopulmonary Sciences, Division of Respiratory Care, College of Health Sciences (both of Rush University) highlighted the critical role played by respiratory therapists during the pandemic and discussed the rapid training they developed on prone positioning for acute respiratory distress syndrome.