Staffing patterns of respiratory therapists in critical care units of Canadian teaching hospitals.

Background: The optimal level of respiratory therapy staffing in Canadian intensive care units (ICUs) has not been described in the literature. An examination of practice patterns is an essential first step in developing an understanding of the contribution of respiratory therapists (RTs) to both short- and long-term patient outcomes in this context.

Objective: To identify the ratio of mechanically ventilated patients to respiratory therapist (Vent:RT ratio) in the ICUs of Canadian teaching hospitals and the factors that influence this ratio.