Respiratory therapists serve a vital role caring for patients as members of the front-line healthcare team. This was especially true during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.
For Munson Medical Center’s Duane Croel, B.S.R.T., RRT, respiratory therapy was always on his radar because his mom was one. When it came time to choose a profession, he knew he wanted to help people.
“It’s a good choice if you like action and excitement,” he said. “We go to all the code blues which are called when there is a medical emergency in the hospital, we take care of all ages of patients, we take care of babies, and we fly in the helicopter or airplane with North Flight Aero Med if that is something that excites you.”
Muskegon Community College Respiratory Therapy Director Debra Grube, M.S.M., RRT, and Croel are looking to educate more young people about the profession and recently spent time at a career day for students in Traverse City showcasing their equipment and answering questions.
Croel serves as the clinical coordinator for the program that features a video-linked classroom with Muskegon instructors. Students receive their clinical training working alongside respiratory therapists at the hospital.
As the name infers, respiratory therapists are focused on a patient’s respiratory or cardio-pulmonary needs and during their 28 months of training become proficient at identifying, preventing, and remediating respiratory issues. Before entering the program, students need to meet baseline standards in English and algebra.
While in the program, students learn the various respiratory devices, gasses, and appropriate mixtures of oxygen, nitrogen, etc. to most effectively help patients. During the COVID-19 pandemic, respiratory therapists played an important role supporting mechanically ventilated patients.
Croel said typically between three and six students are enrolled in each year of the Traverse City branch of the program.
Graduates receive an associate’s degree from Muskegon Community College and many of the Traverse City graduates have gone on to jobs at Munson Healthcare. While students who live in other communities served by Munson Healthcare would need to take their classroom training at Traverse City, those students could do their clinical training at one of the other health system hospitals.
“This program is really a a nice opportunity to stay in the community,” Croel said. “While the classroom instructors are downstate, they do come up at least once during the semester. Most of the students here in Traverse City like it because we have a good culture in our department. Our therapists take pride in giving them the right direction. We know each student personally, their strengths and weaknesses, and really work to help them succeed.”
More information about the program and how to apply can be found on the college’s website at muskegoncc.edu/respiratory-therapy/mccs-traverse-city-rt-program/.