Respiratory Therapists at Bay Area Medical Center provide 24-hour in-house coverage for all areas of the hospital, including critical care and emergency management of any patient requiring assistance in ventilation. The therapists provide medicated respiratory treatments, monitor and assess all oxygen use and manage all ventilator patients, as well as perform all electrocardiograms and EEG's. Therapists involve themselves in patient teaching in all aspects of respiratory care for all age groups. The respiratory therapy staff also assists BAMC paramedics in the transfer of patients to other facilities when ventilator management is required.

On an outpatient basis, patients receive the full gamut of services, including state-of-the-art pulmonary function testing, which assists physicians in the diagnosis of lung disease. EEG's (electroencephalograms), EKG's (electrocardiograms), nocturnal pulse oximetry testing, and vascular studies also are provided. Simple spirometry testing is provided in the occupational health arena to assist local industry.