Children can experience breathing difficulties or respiratory complications due to a medical condition, injury or surgical procedure. Norton Children’s offers inpatient and outpatient respiratory therapy for children and teens. Our respiratory therapy team has the expertise and technology to help children with breathing issues and complications. Our team provides diagnostic testing and evaluation, as well as patient and family education.

Our respiratory therapists provide care at our hospitals that treat pediatric patients. We have respiratory therapists available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for any time a child experiences breathing issues or complications. Our respiratory therapy team works closely with specialty care providers throughout Norton Children’s to provide respiratory care. Our respiratory therapists are vital members of the trauma and resuscitation teams available at Norton Children’s Hospital.

What Is a Respiratory Therapist?

A respiratory therapist is a health care specialist who completes intensive, specialized training in treating conditions involving the lungs and respiratory system. Respiratory therapists work with patients who have infections, injuries or conditions that affect breathing.

Our respiratory therapists are available to care for patients in our intensive care units, including our neonatal intensive care units (NICUs), Jennifer Lawrence Cardiac Intensive Care Unit, pediatric intensive care unit, as well as our emergency departments and more. They also provide outpatient care at the Novak Center for Children’s Health in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

Why Would a Child Need Respiratory Therapy?

Respiratory therapy treats patients with a variety of breathing issues and conditions, including asthma, bronchiolitis, cystic fibrosis, heart conditions, preterm birth and trauma, as well as infectious diseases that may affect the lungs, such as pneumonia. Respiratory therapy also may be needed following an injury or surgery.