Will AI replace Respiratory Therapists?

AI can do 28% of the work Respiratory Therapists do at least twice as fast. Real use has not caught up: none of their tasks show up in real AI use yet, but AI could speed up 6 of them. Robots can technically handle 2 physical tasks. 14 still need a person.

AI is already doing this0 · 0% of time

People already use AI for these tasks in real work, based on Anthropic's analysis of how Claude is used.

  • Real AI use has not reached any of this job's tasks yet.

AI could do this next6 · 28% of time

AI can speed these up by at least half, but real use has not caught up yet. These are next in line.

  • Maintain charts that contain patients' pertinent identification and therapy information.11% of time
  • Work as part of a team of physicians, nurses, or other healthcare professionals to manage patient care by assisting with medical procedures or related duties.5% of time
  • Determine requirements for treatment, such as type, method and duration of therapy, precautions to be taken, or medication and dosages, compatible with physicians' orders.4% of time
  • Explain treatment procedures to patients to gain cooperation and allay fears.4% of time
  • Enforce safety rules and ensure careful adherence to physicians' orders.3% of time
  • Relay blood analysis results to a physician.1% of time

Robots can technically do this2 · 11% of time

Physical tasks that today's robots can perform in at least some settings. Robots are cost competitive for very few tasks so far, so this change moves slower.

  • Inspect, clean, test, and maintain respiratory therapy equipment to ensure equipment is functioning safely and efficiently, ordering repairs when necessary.Robots: purpose built settings7% of time
  • Perform bronchopulmonary drainage and assist or instruct patients in performance of breathing exercises.Robots: purpose built settings4% of time

Still needs a person14 · 61% of time

No real AI use, no proven AI speedup and no robot that can do it yet. This is the part of the job to build on.

  • Set up and operate devices, such as mechanical ventilators, therapeutic gas administration apparatus, environmental control systems, or aerosol generators, following specified parameters of treatment.18% of time
  • Monitor patient's physiological responses to therapy, such as vital signs, arterial blood gases, or blood chemistry changes, and consult with physician if adverse reactions occur.12% of time
  • Read prescription, measure arterial blood gases, and review patient information to assess patient condition.8% of time
  • Provide emergency care, such as artificial respiration, external cardiac massage, or assistance with cardiopulmonary resuscitation.4% of time
  • Educate patients and their families about their conditions and teach appropriate disease management techniques, such as breathing exercises or the use of medications or respiratory equipment.4% of time
  • Perform pulmonary function and adjust equipment to obtain optimum results in therapy.3% of time
  • Conduct tests, such as electrocardiograms (EKGs), stress testing, or lung capacity tests, to evaluate patients' cardiopulmonary functions.3% of time
  • Demonstrate respiratory care procedures to trainees or other healthcare personnel.1% of time
  • Teach, train, supervise, or use the assistance of students, respiratory therapy technicians, or assistants.1% of time
  • Use a variety of testing techniques to assist doctors in cardiac or pulmonary research or to diagnose disorders.1% of time
  • Make emergency visits to resolve equipment problems.1% of time
  • Transport patients to the hospital or within the hospital.1% of time
  • Perform endotracheal intubation to maintain open airways for patients who are unable to breathe on their own.1% of time
  • Monitor cardiac patients, using electrocardiography devices, such as a holter monitor.1% of time

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What this means

AI can speed up parts of this job, mostly the paperwork and information work around it. The core still depends on hands, presence or relationships.

What to do next

  • Get ahead on the 6 tasks AI could do next. These move as tools improve, so learning them early pays off.
  • Keep an eye on the 2 physical tasks robots can technically do. Cost keeps most robots out of work today, so this shift is slower.
  • Build on the 14 tasks that stay human. This is where your judgment, skill and relationships matter most.
Occupational Therapists84%Low Vision Therapists, Orientation and Mobility Specialists, and Vision Rehabilitation Therapists39%Physical Therapists67%Radiation Therapists28%Recreational Therapists60%Speech-Language Pathologists62%

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