Compare 9 respiratory therapists in Chicago, IL. Check ratings, insurance, and availability.
9
Respiratory Therapists
100%
Accepting patients
56%
Most common: RRT
Ranked by Clarity Score, based on profile detail, verification, and patient activity.
Chicago is one of the great American medical cities. The Illinois Medical District on the Near West Side is one of the largest urban medical campuses in the country, and the competition between Northwestern, UChicago Medicine, Rush, and Advocate keeps driving specialization deeper. The challenge is that access depends heavily on which side of the city you live on, and the South and West sides have far fewer options than the North Side and downtown.
Chicago has 9 respiratory therapists. The most common credential is RRT (56%). 100% are currently accepting new patients.
The CTA L train connects many neighborhoods to the major hospital campuses. Northwestern and Lurie Children's sit in Streeterville off the Red Line. Rush and the Illinois Medical District are accessible via the Blue and Pink Lines. UChicago Medicine in Hyde Park is reachable by the 6 bus or Metra Electric. North Side residents have easy access to Advocate Illinois Masonic and Swedish Covenant. South Side access gaps are real, and residents in Englewood and Back of the Yards face longer trips for specialty care.
Providers practice throughout Chicago. Lincoln Park is a popular North Side neighborhood near Northwestern's Prentice Women's Hospital and Lurie Children's. Wicker Park is a trendy neighborhood with growing healthcare options and proximity to the Illinois Medical District. Hyde Park is home to the University of Chicago Medical Center, a Level I trauma center and nationally ranked hospital. Gold Coast is an affluent lakefront neighborhood with concierge practices and proximity to Northwestern Memorial Hospital.
Nearby hospitals include Northwestern Memorial Hospital, University of Chicago Medical Center, and Rush University Medical Center. Local training programs run through Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and University of Chicago Pritzker School of Medicine. Chicago's Illinois Medical District is one of the largest urban medical districts in the US, spanning 560 acres.
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
Chicago, IL has 9 licensed respiratory therapists. 100% are currently accepting new patients, so finding an available provider should be straightforward.
Yes. 100% of respiratory therapists in Chicago, IL 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 Chicago, IL 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.
Chicago's healthcare market is dominated by four academic systems (Northwestern, UChicago, Rush, Loyola) and two large community systems (Advocate Aurora, Ascension). Most physicians are affiliated with one system, and referrals stay in-network. Access varies by neighborhood: the North Side and downtown have excellent coverage, while the South and West sides have documented provider shortages.
RRT stands for Registered Respiratory Therapist and CRT stands for Certified Respiratory Therapist. Both are equivalent qualifications. In Chicago, IL, 56% hold the RRT credential and 11% hold CRT. The difference is in training pathway, not quality of care.
Some respiratory therapists in Chicago, IL accept Illinois Medicaid, the state's Medicaid program. Medicaid covers medically necessary respiratory therapy services, including pulmonary rehabilitation, home oxygen, and CPAP. Coverage details vary by state. Contact the provider's office directly to confirm Illinois Medicaid participation before scheduling.
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 9 respiratory therapists in Chicago, IL, you can search on FindClarity to find a provider who fits your schedule.
The Illinois Medical District is a 560-acre campus on Chicago's Near West Side. It includes Rush University Medical Center, the Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, UIC Hospital, and several research institutions. It is one of the largest concentrations of healthcare facilities in any American city.
Hospital closures over the past two decades have reduced inpatient capacity on the South Side. UChicago Medicine expanded its trauma center in 2018 to help address the gap, but many South Side residents still travel 30 minutes or more for specialty care. Community health centers like Friend Health and PCC Community Wellness fill some of the primary care gaps.
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.