Thinking outside the box: moving the respiratory care profession beyond the hospital walls.

For centuries, hospitals have served as the cornerstone of the United States healthcare system. Just like the majority of the general population, the respiratory care profession was born inside the hospital walls, just over 6 decades ago. While the knowledge, skills, and attributes of the respiratory therapist are critically necessary in acute care settings, the profession must move itself to a stronger position across the entire continuum of care of patients with acute and chronic cardiopulmonary diseases within the next several years to stay ahead of the curve of healthcare reform. In this paper, based on the 28th annual Philip Kittredge Memorial Lecture, I will examine the necessary strategies and values that the profession of respiratory care will need to successfully embrace to "think outside the box" and move the profession beyond the hospital walls for patient- and outcomes-focused, sustainable impact in the future healthcare delivery system.