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Ventilator Weaning Program

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. The patients who are admitted to this program are dependent on mechanical respiratory support, such as ventilators and tracheotomies. Many of these patients are infants born prematurely.  

 

The goals of the program are weaning from mechanical ventilators (including patients with tracheotomies) or transition to portable ventilators. In addition, caregivers are taught how to manage home ventilation and tracheostomy care, as well as other aspects of respiratory support. Caregiver training is one of the hallmarks of Blythedale’s care.

 

An interdisciplinary team, led by a pediatric pulmonologist working closely with a rehabilitation medicine physician, provides comprehensive neonatal care including nutrition and feeding, medical management, sensory stimulation, respiratory, physical and occupational therapy and assessment of development. Each patient is assigned their own social worker that works closely with the family to address current and anticipated needs.

For further information, please contact Chief Medical Officer Joelle Mast, Ph.D., M.D., at (914) 592-7138, ext. 440, or email to joellem@blythedale.org