What Is the Difference Between Paramedics & Respiratory Therapists?

Many medical professionals work together to care for patients. Paramedics work with critically ill patients transporting them from the scene of an emergency to the emergency department at the hospital. Once the patient arrives, the respiratory therapist is responsible for the care of the patient's airway and breathing. Both professions have responsibilities that can overlap, but each profession also has its distinct differences.

Eduction for Paramedics

• Paramedics will take a certificate program or associate degree program in emergency medical services. They are educated to provide advanced emergency care to patients in out-of-hospital emergency situations under the direct supervision of a licensed physician. A paramedic must past a national credentialing test.

Education for Respiratory Therapists

• A respiratory therapist must obtain a minimum of an associate degree. Their education covers all aspects of care for the respiratory system including ventilator management, medication delivery, breathing and blood tests and other therapies necessary to keep the airway clear and the lungs properly functioning.

Roles in the Emergency Department

• Paramedics will stabilize a patient at the scene of an emergency. Under the instructions of a physician, they will maintain a patient's airway, start an IV, administer medication and transport a patient to the nearest hospital.
  On arrival to the hospital, the respiratory therapist will take over the care of the airway. With a physician's order, they may place the patient on a ventilator, draw an arterial blood gas or give a breathing treatment.

Roles During Transportation

• Paramedics and respiratory therapists will work together when transporting a patient from one facility to another. The paramedic will be responsible for the patient's general care including monitoring the patient's heart and any intravenous medications, while the respiratory therapist will care specifically for the patient's airway including breathing and special equipment, or they may assist with breathing in certain situations.

Public Education

• Both careers work in the community helping to educate the public. The paramedic will educate on injury prevention and patient advocacy. The respiratory therapist will educate on respiratory disease prevention, smoking cessation and occupational health as it relates to breathing.