pulmonary rehabilitation
  1. Home
  2. Treatment Areas
  3. Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Pulmonary Rehabilitation

Blythedale’s Pulmonary Rehabilitation program is widely recognized as a national center of excellence due to the Hospital’s extraordinary success weaning fragile infants and children from respiratory support machines for an improved quality of life. Our parent training programs help ensure that caregivers are both confident and competent in caring for their child.

Why Blythedale...

We are the only post-acute care provider of ICU-level technology in New York State. By investing in the most modern respiratory support technology, and providing attending pediatricians in the Hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Blythedale is committed to a high quality and safe environment for medically fragile children to achieve their maximum potential.

  • Inpatient
  • Day Hospital
  • Long Term Care

The goal of the Pulmonary Rehabilitation program is weaning from technology completely or to the least invasive support to facilitate the family's transition to home.  Parents are involved in the care of their child every step of the way, and learn proper use of equipment, care of tracheostomy, and other aspects of respiratory support from the start of admission.  This caregiver training is one of the hallmarks of the Blythedale experience.

Blythedale's modern respiratory support technology includes critical care ventilators, portable ventilators, BiPAP, CPAP, bubble CPAP and high flow nasal cannula in order to transition infants and children as quickly as possible from the intensive care unit (ICU).  By providing attending pediatricians in the Hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Blythedale has committed to a high quality and safe environment for medically fragile children to achieve their maximum potential.

Critical Care Trained Physicians
Our team of critical care trained physicians, combined with a state-of-the-art simulation lab means better outcomes for our patients.
Learn More About Our Physicians
A Journey of Hope

A Journey of Hope

Follow the extraordinary journeys of a few of Blythedale's smallest and most fragile infants, as their families prepare to bring them home... for the very first time.

Read More See all Stories

Pulmonary Rehabilitation Team

Blythedale’s team of pediatric pulmonologists, intensive care physicians and pediatric respiratory therapists work in concert with a multidisciplinary team of rehabilitation nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists to optimize each child’s function to help them achieve their treatment objectives.

Agnes Banquet, M.D.
Pediatric Pulmonologist
Dennis Davidson, Unit Chief, Infant & Toddler Unit/Neonatology
Dennis Davidson, M.D.
Unit Chief, Infant & Toddler Unit/Neonatology
Tracy Lawrence - Black, M.D., Pediatrician, Neonatology
Tracy Lawrence - Black, M.D.
Pediatrician, Neonatology
See all/other staff

Related Departments

Pediatrics

View Department

Pediatrics

Dedicated pediatricians for each of our units provide medical care while the child is in the hospital, coordinate the services of the other subspecialties, and supervise the discharge planning process. Family and pediatric nurse practitioners are assigned to the Hospital’s units, as well as...

Learn more

Nursing

View Department

Nursing

The focus of our care is on the possibilities of each child and family for healing, for learning and for progress. We individualize the plan of care to incorporate each family's goals as we recognize that every child and parent has unique needs and strengths. Our hands-on nursing approach...

Learn more

Respiratory Care Services

View Department

Respiratory Care Services

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...

Learn more

Parent and Caregiver Training

View Department

Parent and Caregiver Training

Parents receive extensive training in managing their child’s condition and necessary medical equipment. If a child relies on medical technology, such as a ventilator, our staff engages parents in a thorough program of education - beginning on day one - so parents become confident and adept in...

Learn more

Social Work and Care Coordination Services

View Department

Social Work and Care Coordination Services

When your child is admitted to one of Blythedale’s programs, your family is assigned a social worker who will work closely with you throughout your stay at Blythedale. We will help you cope with the emotional stress of the next phase of your child’s recovery while adjusting to a new...

Learn more

Clinical Nutrition

View Department

Clinical Nutrition

Our dietitians create individualized meal plans for patients with allergies, dietary restrictions and specialized diets, while working alongside the child's speech therapist to ensure the best results. For the infant population at Blythedale Children's Hospital, the Clinical Nutrition team...

Learn more

Physical Therapy

View Department

Physical Therapy

Treatment plans often include exercise for patients who have been immobilized and lack flexibility, strength, or endurance. In addition, pediatric physical therapists promote development of normal components of movement and gross motor skills. Augmentative therapies provided by Blythedale’s...

Learn more

Occupational Therapy

View Department

Occupational Therapy

Our experienced pediatric OTs are proficient in working with children ranging from medically fragile infants to teenagers recovering from traumatic injuries. Our treatment sessions are child centered using a supportive and playful approach. Services include: Comprehensive evaluation of child’...

Learn more

Speech Pathology & Audiology

View Department

Speech Pathology & Audiology

Speech and Feeding Therapy Blythedale is skilled in diagnosing subtle developmental differences that are often difficult to identify. We provides services in the areas of language (understanding and expression of thoughts), speech (or clarity), voice, fluency (or stuttering), pragmatic (or social...

Learn more

Therapeutic and Developmental Support Services

View Department

Therapeutic and Developmental Support Services

Child Life and Creative Arts Program ​ Child Life Program The Child Life and Creative Arts program at Blythedale Children’s Hospital is dedicated to helping infants, children and their families cope through their medical journey. Our team of Certified Child Life Specialists are trained in the...

Learn more

The Robert Stone Day Hospital

View Department

The Robert Stone Day Hospital

Following an evaluation by an interdisciplinary team at Blythedale (in coordination with the child’s family and community physician), an individualized treatment plan is developed to address the child’s unique medical, therapeutic and developmental needs. In addition, every child is...

Learn more

The Steven and Alexandra Cohen Pediatric Long Term Care Pavilion

View Department

The Steven and Alexandra Cohen Pediatric Long Term Care Pavilion

Please click here for a coronavirus update and important visitor restrictions. The Pavilion, which opened in 2016, serves children with complex medical needs, including those who require a longer period of time to be weaned from the ventilator, and premature infants with feeding difficulties,...

Learn more

Pharmacy

View Department

Pharmacy

The Department is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to patients and staff. Our pharmacists prepare compounds for both enteral and parenteral specialty medications, and provides individualized patient specific weight based unit doses. Our team reviews the appropriateness of all medication...

Learn more
see all departments
Jackson

Joyful Jackson Goes Home

Ex-Preemie Prevails with Respiratory Reslience, Brotherly Bond & Family of Fighters

Jackson, a former preemie twin was born weighing as much as a carton of eggs and diagnosed with complex respiratory and feeding issues. But, just like his brother and parents, Jackson is a fighter. While at Blythedale Children's Hospital, he packed on 20 lbs., became stronger, more mobile and is now on the path toward eliminating use of his respiratory support devices. 

Raymond

Resilient Raymond

Micro-Preemie Masters Movement as Inpatient and Outpatient

Raymond, a former micro-preemie, has got some serious moves and loves to show them off by rolling, sitting up, and successfully transitioning between inpatient and outpatient services. Learn how #TeamBlythedale helped restore Raymond and guide his mom to a more confident future. 

abby

Amazing Abby Overcomes Cardiac and Pulmonary Challenges

Amazing Abby Overcomes Cardiac and Pulmonary Challenges

Learn how the innovative approach in The Steven and Alexandra Cohen Pediatric Long Term Care Pavilion at Blythedale Children's Hospital helped give Abby the extra boost she needed to recover from heart surgery and pulmonary deficits, while providing critical caregiver training to mom and dad, all in an effort to bring her home for the first time. 

Marvelous Mirela: Thriving in The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Pediatric LTC Pavilion

Marvelous Mirela

Thriving in The Steven & Alexandra Cohen Pediatric LTC Pavilion

Learn how this spunky toddler, Mirela, overcame the odds with the help of her parents and our clinicians to thrive at the Steven and Alexandra Cohen Pediatric Long Term Care Pavilion at Blythedale Children's Hospital.