Recently, the wildfire smoke has caused significant air quality problems across many parts of the United States, including Pennsylvania and West Virginia. Smoke from these wildfires has caused the Air Quality Index to reach unhealthy levels in many communities, exposing millions of people to particulate matter. These microscopic particles can go through deep into the lungs and even enter the bloodstream, which increases the risk of respiratory problems.
As a result, healthcare systems in both states may experience increased demand for respiratory care as more individuals seek treatment for breathing problems due to wildfire. Respiratory Therapists (RTs) play an important role during wildfire smoke because they specialize in treating patients with respiratory conditions. RTs work alongside physicians and nurses in emergency departments, intensive care units, and hospital units to provide immediate respiratory support. Their responsibilities include providing oxygen therapy, giving breathing treatments, monitoring patients’ lung function, and helping manage advanced respiratory equipment such as BiPAP machines and mechanical ventilators.
To ensure the quality and safety of health care, Respiratory Therapy is a licensed healthcare profession in both Pennsylvania and West Virginia. In Pennsylvania, respiratory therapists must be licensed through the Pennsylvania State Board of Medicine. To become licensed, applicants need to graduate from an accredited respiratory therapy program and pass national exams administered by the National Board for Respiratory Care. Similarly, West Virginia requires RTs to complete approved education programs, pass national credentialing exams, and obtain a license through the West Virginia Board of Respiratory Care. These licensing requirements ensure that RTs have the necessary clinical knowledge and skills to respond effectively during respiratory emergencies.
According to an upcoming special data release on the scope of practice of RTs across all 50 states and DC, PA and WV have extremely similar rules and regulations related to the range of services an RT is able to legally provide. Interestingly, both states have provisions that allow RTs to provide emergency, acute, critical, and post-acute care on site in emergency situations with limited supervision. This flexibility allows RTs to be ready to assist during emergencies, such as increased demand for emergency services due to wildfire inhalation. PA specifies the ability to insert and maintain artificial airways and mechanical ventilation, while WV specifies that RTs can be part of the transport team of patients to emergency services or between facilities. Both states do require communication of services rendered to primary care providers or recommendations of patients to follow-up with their regular provider. Regular and non-emergency services in PA can largely be provided with either authorization or direct supervision, but WV does require both authorization and supervision.
As wildfire smoke continues to affect air quality across Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and other parts of the country, the demand for respiratory care services is likely to increase. RTs will remain an important part of the healthcare team by providing specialized care to patients affected by smoke exposure and other respiratory conditions. Their training, licensing requirements, and role in hospitals ensure that patients receive effective treatment during periods of poor air quality. As wildfires become more frequent in recent years, the work of RTs will become even more important in protecting public health and supporting communities during environmental health emergencies.
If you are interested in monitoring air quality in the Morgantown WV area, real-time data is available from AirNow.gov.
Haoyu (Leonard) Wang is a Graduate Research Assistant and Student Research Fellow in the Knee Regulatory Research Center and a PhD Candidate in the Department of Economics in the John Chambers College of Business & Economics at West Virginia University.