Compare 5 respiratory therapists in Washington, DC. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
5
Respiratory Therapists
100%
Accepting patients
60%
Most common: RRT
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
DC's healthcare system reflects the city itself: politically connected, resource-rich, and deeply unequal. Three medical schools and a roster of nationally ranked hospitals coexist with some of the widest health disparity gaps in the country between Wards. The NIH Clinical Center in nearby Bethesda and Walter Reed add a federal layer that no other US city can match. If you know how to navigate the system, the depth of specialty care here is remarkable.
Washington has 5 respiratory therapists. The most common credential is RRT (60%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
GW University Hospital is in Foggy Bottom near the Metro. MedStar Georgetown is in Georgetown (limited transit access, plan for parking or rideshare). MedStar Washington Hospital Center, the city's largest hospital, is in the northeast along Irving Street. Children's National is nearby on Michigan Avenue. The Metro Red Line connects to the Bethesda medical corridor (NIH, Walter Reed, Suburban Hospital). Most specialist offices cluster in Dupont Circle, Foggy Bottom, and along Connecticut Avenue NW.
Providers practice throughout Washington. Georgetown is medStar Georgetown University Hospital anchors healthcare in this historic neighborhood. Specialty practices line M Street and Wisconsin Avenue. Dupont Circle is a central neighborhood with a high density of private practices, particularly in behavioral health and primary care. Whitman-Walker Health provides LGBTQ+ affirming care. Capitol Hill is near MedStar Washington Hospital Center and several congressional health offices. Providence Health serves the eastern neighborhoods. Adams Morgan is a diverse neighborhood with bilingual healthcare options and community health centers. Short commute to Dupont Circle medical offices.
Nearby hospitals include MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, George Washington University Hospital, and MedStar Washington Hospital Center. Local training programs run through Georgetown University School of Medicine and George Washington University School of Medicine. Washington, DC has one of the highest concentrations of physicians per capita in the United States, driven by its medical schools, research institutions, and federal agencies like the NIH and FDA.
In a hospital, the RT will administer breathing treatments (bronchodilators via nebulizer), manage your ventilator settings if applicable, help you with breathing exercises, and monitor your oxygen levels. For pulmonary function testing, the RT guides you through a series of breathing maneuvers into a machine that measures lung capacity and airflow (the test takes 30 to 60 minutes). In pulmonary rehabilitation, the RT leads exercise sessions and teaches breathing techniques over a 6 to 12 week program. For home equipment (CPAP, oxygen), the RT sets up the device, teaches you how to use it, and provides ongoing support.
You may work with a respiratory therapist if you are hospitalized for a breathing problem, in the ICU on a ventilator, diagnosed with COPD or severe asthma and referred for pulmonary rehabilitation, prescribed home oxygen therapy, having a pulmonary function test (spirometry, lung volumes), prescribed a CPAP or BiPAP for sleep apnea, or receiving breathing treatments (nebulizer, inhaler) in a hospital or clinic. Most patients encounter RTs during hospital stays rather than seeking them out independently.
Pulmonary function test: $30-75 copay · Pulmonary rehabilitation session: $20-50 copay · Home oxygen setup: covered by DME benefit · CPAP machine: $0-200 after insurance · Nebulizer: $0-50 after insurance
Washington, DC has 5 licensed respiratory therapists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of respiratory therapists in Washington, DC are currently accepting new patients. You can filter your search on FindClarity to show only providers who are taking new patients.
A pulmonary function test copay is $30 to $75. A pulmonary rehab session copay is $20 to $50. Home oxygen setup is covered under DME. A CPAP machine costs $0 to $200 after insurance. A nebulizer costs $0 to $50 after insurance. Actual costs in Washington, DC depend on the provider and your insurance plan. CPAP supplies (masks, tubing, filters) are covered on a replacement schedule by most plans. Ask your DME provider what is covered and when. Pulmonary rehabilitation is one of the most cost-effective treatments for COPD.
DC healthcare is organized around MedStar Health (Georgetown and Washington Hospital Center), GW Health, and Children's National. Sibley Memorial Hospital in northwest DC is a Johns Hopkins affiliate. The NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda accepts patients through research protocols, not standard insurance. Because the metro area spans DC, Maryland, and Virginia, always check whether your provider is in-network for your specific plan and jurisdiction.
In hospitals, RTs visit as frequently as every two to four hours for breathing treatments. Pulmonary rehabilitation runs two to three times per week for six to twelve weeks. Home oxygen and CPAP follow-ups are periodic (monthly to quarterly). Pulmonary function tests are done as ordered by your physician. With 5 respiratory therapists in Washington, DC, you can search on FindClarity to find a provider who fits your schedule.
Major hospitals in the area include MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, George Washington University Hospital, MedStar Washington Hospital Center, and Howard University Hospital. Many respiratory therapists maintain hospital affiliations for procedures or consultations that require a hospital setting. Contact the hospital directly or check provider profiles on FindClarity for affiliation details.
A physician order is required for all respiratory therapy services. Your pulmonologist, primary care doctor, or hospitalist will order RT services.
Yes. Insurance networks often differ across the three jurisdictions. A DC-based plan may not cover a provider in Bethesda or Arlington at in-network rates, even if they are only a few miles away. MedStar and Kaiser operate across all three jurisdictions, which simplifies things. Always verify your provider's network status for your specific plan.
The NIH Clinical Center in Bethesda accepts patients who qualify for specific research studies, not through standard insurance referrals. If you have a condition that is being actively studied at NIH, your doctor can refer you for a screening. ClinicalTrials.gov lists active NIH studies. There is no cost to patients accepted into NIH studies.
GW Hospital (Foggy Bottom), MedStar Georgetown (Georgetown), and MedStar Washington Hospital Center (northeast DC) are the three main adult emergency departments in the District. Children's National handles pediatric emergencies. MedStar Washington Hospital Center is the region's only Level I adult trauma center.
Inpatient respiratory therapy is covered as part of your hospital stay. Outpatient pulmonary rehabilitation is covered by Medicare (up to 36 sessions with possible extension to 72) and most commercial plans with prior authorization. Home oxygen therapy and CPAP/BiPAP machines are covered under durable medical equipment (DME) benefits when prescribed. Medicare covers 80% of the approved amount for DME after the deductible. Replacement CPAP supplies (masks, tubing) are covered on a schedule. Pulmonary function tests are covered as diagnostic procedures.