Medicine
Undergraduate Programs
Respiratory Therapy
Educational Program
Educational Program
Bachelor of Science in Respiratory Therapy at IUPUI
- Program Director: Adjunct Assistant Professor Johnson
- Medical Director: Assistant Professor Naum
- Associate Medical Director: Associate Professor of Clinical Medicine Ober
- Clinical Director: Adjunct Lecturer Hunt-Dimirsky
- Instructor: Adjunct Lecturer Bischoff, Adjunct Lecture Koehl, Adjunct Lecturer Porter
Description of the Profession Respiratory therapists evaluate and treat patients with cardiopulmonary disorders and are actively involved in health promotion and disease prevention. They care for all types of patients, from the premature infant to the extremely old, and practice in a variety of settings, ranging from patients' homes to the highest level of critical care units. Students in the respiratory therapy major will learn diagnostic procedures ranging from physical examination to the use of highly sophisticated computerized equipment. Patient treatment skills will include everything from the administration of inhaled medications to maintaining critically ill patients on ventilators. The Bachelor of Science in respiratory therapy will provide graduates with the critical-thinking and problem-solving skills that they will need to be successful in their careers.
Graduates of the Program The graduates of the Respiratory Therapy Program are eligible for state licensure examinations as well as examinations offered by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC). Completion of the program will allow a graduate to sit for the Registered Respiratory Therapist (R.R.T.) examination.
Credential Required to Practice C.R.T., Certified Respiratory Therapist; R.R.T., Registered Respiratory Therapist
Licensure Requirements to Practice Respiratory therapists are required to obtain licenssure in order to practice in 49 states in the U.S., including Indiana. Examinations by the NBRC are accepted for licensing purposes.
Educational Program
Structure of the Program The professional phase of the program consists of a carefully planned sequence of classroom and laboratory instruction, as well as more than 1,000 hours of supervised clinical instruction. Clinical instruction is provided in a variety of hospitals and health care facilities throughout central Indiana. The prerequisites may be taken on a part-time basis; the professional program is full time and is conducted primarily during the day.
Length of the Program Four years; two years of prerequisite course work (50 credit hours) plus two years (70 credit hours) of professional course work.
Design of the Professional Curriculum The program is designed to cover all aspects of respiratory therapy, with an emphasis on general and critical care.
Program Facilities The program offices are located in Wile Hall on the Methodist Hospital campus.
Location of Clinical Sites Clinical education experiences occur in a variety of settings, including hospitals, rehabilitation centers, nursing homes, physician offices, and other health care facilities in Indiana. Most of the clinical sites are located within a 60-minute drive from downtown Indianapolis, and many are in Indianapolis. Students are expected to provide their own transportation to all clinical sites.
Additional Cost In addition to standard university fees, students are responsible for travel to clinics, laboratory fees, clinical fees, uniforms, vaccination costs, and BLS course. Students may be required to attend professional meetings or seminars, and fees for attending these events may be necessary. Membership in the professional organization is required.
Opportunity for Students to Work Many students work part time while completing the program. Students may be eligible to apply for a limited student permit as a respiratory care practitioner following successful completion of the first year of the professional course work.
Accreditation The Respiratory Therapy Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Respiratory Care, 1248 Harwood Rd., Bedford, TX 76021-4244, (817) 283-2835, www.coarc.com. The program is accredited as program #200039. Outcomes data for the program can be found at http://www.coarc.com/47.html.
Updated: April 28, 2016
