COVID-19 brings shortage of respiratory therapists, and the job itself, into the spotlight

By Justin Hicks jhicks3@mlive.com

Respiratory therapists across the country have been feeling the strain of staffing shortages in their field for months. Patient prioritization has often been a necessity during the pandemic, which weighs heavily on the caregivers who see COVID-19 patients at their worst.

That was especially the case on Nov. 14 — “hands down the worst day” of Anna Carmean’s career.