Respiratory Care is an allied health specialty, which plays a vital role in modern medicine and the health care industry. According to the American Association for Respiratory Care (AARC), ''Respiratory Care is the health care discipline that specializes in the promotion of optimum cardiopulmonary function and health and wellness.''<br><br>As members of a team of health care professionals, respiratory therapists evaluate, treat and manage patients of all ages suffering from respiratory illnesses and other cardiopulmonary disorders. These services are provided in wide variety of clinical settings including, but not limited to: hospitals, long term acute care facilities, physician offices and clinics, and patients' homes.<br><br>Respiratory therapists are expected to behave in a manner consistent with the standards and ethics of all health care professionals. In addition to performing respiratory care procedures, respiratory therapists employ critical thinking, patient/environment assessment skills, and utilization of evidence-based clinical practice guidelines to develop and implement effective care plans, patient-driven protocols, disease-based clinical pathways, and disease management programs.