The Respiratory Therapist Workforce in the US: Supply, Distribution, Education Pathways, and State Responses to Emergency Surges in Demand

Authors: Susan Skillman, MS | Bianca Frogner, PhD | Arati Dahal, PhD | Benjamin Stubbs, MPH | Grace Guenther, MPA

Topics: COVID-19, Education and Training, Scope of Practice (SOP), Workforce Demand, Workforce Supply

Research Center: University of Washington Center for Health Workforce Studies

April 16, 2020

This rapid-response brief provides information about the respiratory therapist workforce in the US. It includes descriptions of the supply, distribution, and education pathways of the workforce. The brief also addresses COVID-19 emergency concerns about the respiratory therapist workforce capacity and examples of state approaches to address workforce gaps.

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University of Washington Center for Health Workforce Studies