Respiratory Therapist with baby

Respiratory Care Services

The Respiratory Therapy Department at Blythedale Children's Hospital provides comprehensive cardiopulmonary care to medically complex children of all ages, from infancy to young adulthood.

Respiratory therapists serve as consultants to nurses, physicians, and other members of the health care team. Our staff consists of experienced respiratory therapists and respiratory therapy residents who provide excellent quality care, including inpatient services 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

The department is equipped with the latest technological advancements in respiratory care, enabling RTs to provide robust, customized care and well-rounded education to both parents and our medically complex pediatric patients. At Blythedale, we have a dedicated Respiratory Therapy Clinical Education Specialist who focuses on staff, child, and family education. We pride ourselves in the education of parents and families in basic medical competencies to improve health outcomes and promote safe clinical decision making.

Therapy and services provided include:

  • Airway clearance techniques (e.g., cough assist or chest physiotherapy)
  • Capnography - End tidal CO2 monitoring
  • Elective and emergent patient transport
  • High flow nasal cannula therapy (Airvo, Vapotherm & other devices)
  • Mechanical ventilation (use of critical care, transport, and home ventilators)
  • Non-invasive ventilation techniques (CPAP, BiPAP, AVAPS)
  • Oxygen therapy and aerosol therapy
  • Pulmonary rehabilitation (ventilator weaning, passy-muir valve)
  • ​Vital team members of the rapid response/code blue team

As a department that strives for innovation and excellence, Blythedale respiratory therapists are always in search of the newest technologies. Our RTs ensure that care delivery and clinical protocols reflect evidence-based practices. The pediatric population served by the Respiratory Therapy Department at Blythedale Children's Hospital are children who have medical complexities such as congenital heart defects, bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), complex feeding disorders, as well as other acute and chronic respiratory illnesses. RTs are undoubtedly an important sector of Blythedale Children's Hospital, providing essential, life-saving services to their patients.

Our respiratory therapists are registered/certified by the National Board for Respiratory Care (NBRC) and licensed by the New York State Education Department. Our team also consists of respiratory therapists who are Board Certified as Neonatal-Pediatric Specialists and Certified Asthma Educators by the NBRC. We also serve as a clinical affiliate and pediatric rotation site for Hartford University, Norwalk Community College, Stony Brook University, SUNY Sullivan, and Westchester Community College.

Click here to learn more about Blythedale's Pediatric Respiratory Therapy Residency Program

Interested in applying for a Respiratory Therapy position at Blythedale? Click here!

Contact Information:

  • Jade Almendrala, M.B.A., R.R.T., R.R.T.-A.C.C.S., R.R.T.-N.P.S., Director of Respiratory Therapy
  • jalmendrala@blythedale.org
  • (914) 592-7555 Ext. 71274

Respiratory Care Services Staff

Jade Almendrala
Jade Almendrala, M.B.A., R.R.T., R.R.T.-A.C.C.S., R.R.T.-N.P.S.
Director of Respiratory Therapy

Respiratory Care Services has a staff of 27 full-time pediatric respiratory therapists to provide services to inpatients, as well as Day Hospital and Long Term Care patients.

respiratory therapists at blythedale

Respiratory Therapy at Blythedale Children’s Hospital

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