Blythedale’s Ventilator Weaning Program is widely recognized as a national center of excellence due to the Hospital’s extraordinary success in weaning fragile infants and children from the technology previously needed to sustain their lives. A multidisciplinary team, led by a pediatric pulmonologist, provides comprehensive care, including medical management, respiratory, physical and occupational therapy, nutrition and feeding, sensory stimulation, and assessment of development. Each patient is assigned their own social worker who works closely with the family to address current and anticipated needs.

The goals of the program are weaning from mechanical ventilation or transition to a portable ventilator. In addition, caregivers are taught home ventilation and tracheostomy care, as well as other aspects of respiratory support. Caregiver training is one of the hallmarks of Blythedale’s care.

• Board Certified Pediatricians 24/7 and experienced nursing staff (75 % R.N., and more than 85% on the Infant and Toddler Unit).
• 24/7 pulmonary and respiratory support (20 full-time pediatric respiratory therapists).
• State-of-the-art medical technology, monitoring equipment, and new Maquet Servo-i ventilators enable staff to respond to a patient’s rapidly changing condition.
• Largest hospital-based pediatric therapy department in New York State, with 85 full-time pediatric therapists (physical, occupational, and speech pathology). In addition, a therapeutic feeder (specially trained speech or occupational therapist) is assigned to each patient.
• 36% of all children are admitted for ventilator weaning and respiratory care.
• CPAP and BiPAP management and weaning.
• Extensive experience in enteral feeding, weaning infants and children from supplemental tube feeding (naso-gastric, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy).
• Full-time child neurology and pediatric rehabilitation coverage.

• Weaning Patients:
• PediatricMedicine
• Pediatric Pulmonology
• Pediatric RehabilitationMedicine
• Pediatric Neurology
• Pediatric Nursing
• Pediatric Psychology
• Pediatric Nutrition
• Pediatric Respiratory Therapy
• Pediatric Speech Pathology and Feeding Therapy
• Pediatric Occupational Therapy
• Pediatric Physical Therapy
• PainManagement

• Pediatric Ophthalmology
• Pediatric Otolaryngology
• Additional consultative specialists as needed

• Audiology
• SocialWork/CaseManagement
• Radiology
• Lab Services
• Developmental Specialists
• Child Life Services
• Patient Advocacy
• Adaptive Equipment Clinic

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