Services & Specialties
Respiratory Care

Get expert respiratory support for your child from a team dedicated to safe, evidence-based care across every stage of treatment.

Cincinnati Children’s respiratory therapist Anna Zimmerman, right, provides care for patient Violette McClain, pictured, Monday, Dec. 9, 2024, at Cincinnati Children’s Burnet Campus in Cincinnati.

Respiratory Care Expertise Families Can Count On

Breathing problems can feel overwhelming for families. Whether your child has asthma, uses a ventilator, has a tracheostomy, or needs critical care support, our team is here to help.

The Division of Respiratory Care at Cincinnati Children's provides specialized care for patients from infancy through adulthood. Our respiratory therapists work alongside physicians, nurses and specialists across the hospital to deliver personalized, evidence-based care.

We support children in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), cardiac intensive care unit (CICU), trauma services and many other areas. We also provide extensive education to help families feel confident caring for children with tracheostomies and home ventilators.

How Does Cincinnati Children's Respiratory Care Excel?

  • Team-based care with respiratory therapists working closely with specialists throughout the hospital
  • Personalized care plans designed around each child's unique respiratory needs
  • Evidence-based treatments and research that help deliver safe, high-quality care
  • Second opinions that help families better understand diagnoses and treatment options

Respiratory Care Expertise and Support

Experts Across Pediatric Care

Our respiratory therapists partner with specialists from pulmonary medicine, cardiology, neonatology, trauma services, anesthesiology and critical care.

This team-based approach helps ensure children receive coordinated care throughout their treatment journey.

Advanced, Evidence-Based Treatments

Our team uses proven, evidence-based practices to deliver respiratory care across the continuum of care.

Services include:

  • Cardiopulmonary management
  • Ventilator management
  • Inhaled medication delivery
  • Airway clearance therapies
  • Tracheostomy care

Our growing quality improvement and research efforts help bring the latest knowledge into patient care.

Personalized Support for Every Child

No two children have the same needs. We create individualized respiratory care plans based on each patient's condition and goals.

Our respiratory therapists work at the top of their training and collaborate with the healthcare team to provide the right support at the right time.

Education for Families at Home

Families caring for children with tracheostomies or home ventilators need knowledge and confidence.

Our team provides comprehensive tracheostomy education and home ventilator training. We help families learn the skills they need to safely care for their child outside the hospital.

Whole-Child Approach

Respiratory conditions can affect many parts of a child's life. Our team works with providers across Cincinnati Children's to support the whole child.

By partnering with experts from many specialties, we help families receive one coordinated plan focused on the best possible outcomes.