Health Technologists and Technicians, All Other

In respiratory care, some routine tasks are seeing tech help, but most work stays human. For example, keeping patient records is now often done with electronic health records, and new “AI scribe” tools can listen and write notes for therapists ^{[1] [1]}. Early studies say these tools can cut paperwork, though doctors still check the notes.

Smart ventilators are also under research: one study used a neural network to auto-set breathing machine controls for pneumonia and COPD patients ^[1]. In tests this gave “optimal respiratory support,” but such systems aren’t yet common. Similarly, AI models have been trained to suggest ventilator settings and predict when to wean patients off breathing machines ^[1].

These show promise, but a review found that <1% of such AI tools make it into actual ICU care ^[1]. Nearly all face‐to-face tasks – examining patients, teaching staff, and guiding therapy – remain done by people. Experts stress that therapists will “positively influence [AI’s] progression” and work with it to augment their skills, not be replaced ^{[1] [1]}.

Adopting AI in this field is cautious. Simple tools like voice‐to‐text scribes are already available and cheap compared to labor, so they can spread quickly ^[1]. But complex AI (like smart ventilators or decision systems) needs big investments, testing, and safety checks, making hospitals slow to roll them out ^{[1] [1]}.

Regulators must approve these devices, and staff need training. Economic pressure can push adoption—for instance, hospitals see AI as a way to save time or cover for staff shortages. But respiratory care involves trust and quick judgment, so patients and providers value human oversight.

In short, AI is seen as a helpful tool, not a replacement. Young therapists can take heart: technology will do some work (saving paperwork) ^[1], but caring skills and decision-making stay in human hands ^{[1] [1]}.