Respiratory Care Celebrates 30 Years at Craig

When Kathy Mulledy stepped out of the elevator into Craig Hospital for the first time as a respiratory therapist in 1985, she could feel something special in the air.  

“There was just this noticeable feeling of camaraderie,” she says. “Everyone was getting along so well and joking with each other. I knew it was just so different than a regular hospital, just the energy of the place.” 

At the time, Craig’s respiratory care services were part of neighboring Swedish Hospital. New hires like Kathy made the short walk to Craig for orientation until 1994 when Craig opened its own respiratory care department. 

This month, the Craig Hospital Respiratory Care team celebrates 30 years of empowering possibilities for patients. The department continues to stand apart in so many ways, providing protocol-driven care and fostering a culture of camaraderie between patients, their caregivers and interdisciplinary teams. 

“The goal-oriented therapy we provide at Craig is truly unique,” says Justin Walter, BSRT, RT, director of Respiratory Care Services. “Working with patients day in and day out to help them reach their short- and long-term goals is a rarity in the health care community.” 

Respiratory Care’s greatest goal is improving patients’ quality of life. That means liberating them from mechanical ventilation, even when they might have otherwise been told they would remain ventilator dependent. The department successfully weaned more than 87% of its ventilator-dependent patients from 2023-2024. 

“The protocol-driven therapy and time we spend with our patients is certainly attributed to these successes,” Justin says. “Providing ventilator-dependent patients with a voice for the first time echoes this sentiment and can also be attributed to the unique, team-oriented culture and protocols implemented here at Craig. We work closely with all facets of the care team.” 

In turn, Craig’s respiratory therapists feel valued as their clinical expertise is often sought out, Justin says. Kathy can attest to that, having worked in the department since its inception. Respiratory Care provides educational opportunities for its staff as well as research and career-advancement opportunities. 

“At Craig, you always feel like you’re part of something great,” she says. “In Respiratory Care, we’re really connecting with patients and their families and helping them progress as they go into a new life. It’s incredibly rewarding.”

Learn more about our Respiratory Care team and careers in respiratory therapy at Craig.