Tracheostomy has been a part of the Children's Hospital airway management
programs for more than 30 years
In 2018, Children's Hospital New Orleans joined the Global Tracheostomy
Collaborative with the mission of improving tracheostomy safety for children
in Louisiana and the Gulf South.
Today, the hospital's Safe Trach Program includes inpatient care and personal
family instruction from the Safe Trach Team. For many of our patients
transferred in for Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Services, this
can mean working towards decannulation during the stay. Our Safe Trach
Team works side-by-side with our Respiratory Care, Pelican Krewe, Case
Management and Social Work specialists to enable the safe transition to
home care routines.
Long-term multi-specialty care for children with tracheostomy (with or
without ventilator) is offered through our outpatient Tracheostomy Clinic.
Located in the 1st floor ENT Clinic, each single clinic visit provides
our patients the opportunities to receive dedicated, patient-centered
care from our team of pediatric specialists.
Otolaryngology
Respiratory Therapy
Pulmonology
Speech Therapy
Gastroenterology
Audiology
Dentistry
Cardiology
Nutrition
Our on-site Audiology booth and specialists, Polysomnography Lab, nutritionists,
social workers, and the phlebotomy team services serve as additional care
resources available to our patients onsite at the hospital. Tracheostomy
Clinic services are offered to children and adolescents regardless of
the origin of the tracheostomy.
Our Tracheostomy Clinic services include:
Tracheostomy tube management and wound care
Determination of readiness for decannulation pathway
Airway management, including reconstructions
Pulmonary disease management
Voice and speech/language developmental support and progress evaluations
Oral feeding/swallowing and nutrition developmental support and progress
evaluations
Ear health and hearing support
Home health nursing continuity
Home medical equipment endorsement
Developmental milestone achievement assessment and rehabilitation plan
development
