The Ohio State University Medical Center is committed to enhancing the quality of care provided to patients and families. The Respiratory Therapist is an integral member of a team of care providers who reflect a culture of cooperation enthusiasm and mutual respect. The Pulmonary Diagnostic Laboratory encompasses hospital and ambulatory facilities. The Pulmonary Diagnostics Lab provides service for patients undergoing pulmonary function tests/studies such as spirometry, lung volumes, diffusing capacity measurements, arterial blood gas, arterial shunt studies, bronchial provocation, high altitude hypoxia, cardiopulmonary exercise testing, six minute walks, oxygen titrations and assisting physicians in fiberoptic bronchoscopies and other procedures such as: bronchial alveolar lavage, transbronchial needle or forceps biopsy endobronchial ultrasound biopsy, thoracentesis, pleurx catheter placement and removal, pleural biopsy, pleuroscopy s, chest tube placement and removal of foreign body; and other modalities such as balloon dilation, laser, electrocautery treatments, cryotherapy, bronchial thermoplasty, navigational/robotic bronchoscopy and argon beam coagulation. The Respiratory Therapist supports all functions related to pulmonary testing and bronchoscopy procedures including but not limited to patient assessment and screening - pre, intra and post procedure, patient education, minimal and moderate sedation administration, information management - communication to the physician regarding patient assessment information and treatment recommendations, documenting testing data, and equipment operation, quality monitoring and maintenance. The lab is staffed for operation during daytime hours Monday thru Friday 7:00am 5:30pm and for daytime primary and secondary call on weekends and holidays.

The Respiratory Therapist is responsible for providing optimum levels of patient care before, during, and after pulmonary function testing, bronchoscopy and special studies, under the clinical direction of the Pulmonary Diagnostics Respiratory Therapy Manager, Assistant Director, and Director. The Respiratory Therapist also carries out all clinical technical/non-technical tasks associated with these procedures, the calibration and operation of equipment, troubleshooting equipment malfunction, equipment maintenance, and quality monitoring.