respiratory therapy

Respiratory therapists are commonly found in intensive-care units, emergency rooms, critical care transport teams and operating room environments, as well as all other areas of a hospital setting.

Respiratory therapists:

• treat virtually every patient population, and often the most critically ill patients in the hospital
• are often called upon by physicians for respiratory counsel
• are a critical part of the code team and perform CPR. Particularly, establishing a patent airway
• duties include delivery of oxygen via all types of oxygen delivery devices, administration of aerosolized drugs, Endotracheal Intubation, suctioning, management of life support, weaning of ventilation or life support, management of tracheotomies, drawing and interpretation of arterial blood gas samples, and pulmonary function testing

Better Breathers Club

(formerly Breathe Easy Support Group)

This American Lung Association support group is for those with breathing issues and friends/family with breathing issues.

The group is led by Amy Pascarella, RRT, respiratory therapy clinical supervisor, BRMC, and American Lung Association-trained facilitator.

Meets the last Wednesday of each month at 1:30 p.m. at the Bradford Area Public Library.

Free and open to the public. For more information, call 814/362-8296.

For more information on Better Breathers, click here.

Our team

Our professionally-trained staff of licensed certified, and/or registered respiratory care practitioners work closely with your physician under the medical directorship of Frank Arnal, M.D. board certified in pulmonary medicine, internal medicine, critical care medicine and sleep medicine.

Our respiratory therapy team cares about your comfort, safety, and satisfaction and therefore always searches for ways to improve your experience at BRMC. If there is anything that we could have done to improve your visit with our staff, whether as an inpatient, outpatient or patient caregiver/family, please feel free to address it with us before you leave the facility to ensure that we facilitate a change. You may also receive a survey in the mail allowing you the opportunity to rate your experience and put your thoughts and suggestions down on paper. We aim high, so if there is any reason you would not give a '5', we would like to make it right before you leave and/or return. Thank you.

Our program services include:

Respiratory Disease Education

American Lung Association asthma basics

• Learn more about asthma basics in this interactive learning module.
• Is your child ready to keep their asthma medication with them at school? Find out with this tool.
• Create an asthma action plan.
• Learn more about asthma here.

KidsHealth teaches children about their lungs and respiratory system.  

Learn more by visiting our health library.