Services and Programs

Pediatric Pulmonology

Program for Technology-Dependent Children

Who are Technology-Dependent Children?

Did You Know… The NYS Physically Handicapped Children's Program recognizes our Center as a designated Infant Apnea Center.

Children who are considered technology-dependent have chronic respiratory insufficiency or failure and require specialized medical equipment to support their lives. The most common conditions to require this care include:

• Neuromuscular disease;
• Conditions resulting from extreme premature birth, including apnea;
• Congenital abnormalities of the lungs or airways;
• Complications from serious illness, injury, or surgery.

Did You Know… There are currently 36 children who are managed at home on ventilators, and this team has previously managed approximately 40 others. The first child to be cared for at home on a ventilator was discharged from this hospital over 20 years ago.

Examples of the types of equipment required by technology-dependent children, can include, but is not limited to:

• Mechanical ventilators
• BiPAP
• Oxygen supplementation
• Tracheostomy tubes
• Cardio respiratory (apnea) monitors
• Oximeters

Caring for Technology-Dependent Children

Our physicians usually become involved in the care of these children during a prolonged hospitalization - either in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) or following a serious injury or illness. Our physicians work closely with each child's primary inpatient care team and primary health care provider to make decisions regarding treatment and long-term care at home options. Once home, a child's care team is a collaboration of the family, community physicians (including the child's primary doctor), other specialists, home care nurses as well as the home medical equipment company. Children are followed through the outpatient clinic and via telephone as appropriate. Care plans are designed individually, recognizing that each child and each family is unique.