Where Are Ontario's Respiratory Therapists Working?

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Workforce Analysis
• Respiratory Therapy Practice
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Registered respiratory therapists (RRTs) are crucial for managing cardiopulmonary disorders.
• There is a growing trend of managing respiratory conditions outside of hospitals.
• Understanding RRTs' practice settings is vital for healthcare planning.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the practice location trends of RRTs in Ontario from 1996 to 2007.
• To investigate the impact of healthcare policy on RRTs' work settings.
• To identify potential gaps in community-based respiratory care.

Main Methods:

• Longitudinal data analysis of 2,903 RRTs in Ontario.
• Examination of employment data spanning 1996 to 2007.
• Comparison of RRTs' work locations with healthcare policy directives.

Main Results:

• The majority of RRTs worked full-time in hospitals during the study period.
• Hospital sector retention for RRTs was notably high.
• Policy initiatives encouraging community care had minimal effect on RRTs' practice locations.

Conclusions:

• Despite policy shifts, RRTs' concentration in hospitals remains high.
• The study raises questions about the provision of respiratory services in community settings.
• Further research is needed to understand the evolving role of RRTs in non-hospital care.