October 25-31, 2026
This year’s Respiratory Care Week theme is “Every Breath, Every Moment.” It speaks to how much our respiratory therapists shape the daily health of the patients we serve. At Thames Valley Family Health Team (TVFHT), they are an integral part of your primary care team.
Who are respiratory therapists?
Respiratory therapists (RTs) are highly skilled healthcare professionals who evaluate, treat, and support heart and lung health for patients of every age. Whether they’re helping someone manage asthma or COPD, diagnosing lung disease, or working with other clinicians to shape a care plan, their expertise touches nearly every corner of our practice.
What do they do?
Help diagnose lung issues. RTs perform non-invasive breathing tests that can identify asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). These tests can also help you get to the bottom of a chronic cough, wheezing, or shortness of breath. They also track whether your current inhalers or medications are improving your lung health.
Build care plans that work. RTs work side by side with patients, their physicians, Nurse Practitioners, and care teams to develop treatment plans that fit each person.
Teach and support. RTs show patients and families how to manage lung disease, prepare for cold and flu season, and recover after a hospital stay.
Protect against respiratory illness. RTs provide vaccinations against respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), influenza, and pneumonia.
The result
TVFHT patients who work with respiratory therapists are less likely to need hospital visits. As we head into another particularly severe cold and flu season, that support matters more than ever. Their work protects not only individual patients but our whole community.
Thank you
On behalf of the entire organization, we want to recognize the incredible respiratory therapists who are such a vital part of the Thames Valley Family Health Team.
Respiratory therapists: Every Breath, Every Moment.