Face to Face with our

Respiratory Therapist

Jim Bundalion, our Respiratory Therapist, is the mainstay of our Respiratory Care program and onsite at Centennial Healthcare 5 days a week.

Hi Jim, what drew you to this field? Honestly, I never dreamed of becoming an RT since I never knew such a medical field existed. I was just 18 years old when I started working as an orderly in a Philadelphia hospital and I noticed a Respiratory Therapist treating a patient. That really piqued my interest. I was fascinated by the complexity of respiratory care.

How many years have you been doing this? As an RT for more than 20 years, I have worked in various hospital settings such as the ICU, PICU, ER and Recovery Room. I have been at Centennial for 2 years and I just want to say that the team here is really supportive and a pleasure to work with

What do you love most about being an Respiratory Therapist?

I love the challenges it brings. It gives me a chance to interact with residents and make a real difference in their lives. You know, many of us take our ability to breathe and speak for granted. Working with others who struggle in these areas gives me renewed appreciation for these tremendous gifts. Being an RT inspired me to become an EMT as well.

What does your role as RT entail?

I do an initial assessment or pre-admission screening to clarify the patient’s diagnosis and needs. I check if they had a tracheostomy, if they require continuous oxygen, CPAP or BiPAP etc. I then recommend a treatment plan that is initiated only after receiving physician approval. And then I am here to make sure treatment is administered properly. Significantly, to help prevent pneumonia I make sure to exercise the lungs with coughing and deep breathing exercises.