Tracheostomy and Home Ventilator Program


Caring for a child who has a tracheostomy requires experience that only a pediatric team of experts can provide. At Children's Wisconsin, we care for children who require a tracheostomy and also children who require a tracheostomy with a home ventilator. Our multidisciplinary approach and commitment to the highest quality of care makes our program the premier tracheostomy/home ventilator program in the region. The Tracheostomy and Home Ventilator Program is part of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep medicine, which has been named among the nation's best in the U.S. News & World Report Best Children's Wisconsin report.


Our mission

Ryner million dollar baby

  • Provide care for children with tracheostomies or tracheostomy with a home ventilator across the spectrum of care. We pride ourselves on developing relationships with children and their families before tracheostomy placement.
  • Provide multidisciplinary support both inpatient and outpatient
  • Early involvement in decision making process with families and care teams in plan of care
  • Educate and prepare parents and caregivers of respiratory technology dependent children to successfully care for their child
  • Work closely with community resources (such as home care companies, home nursing, medical providers, school staff) to safely integrate back to their home community

Video: Caring for a child with a tracheostomy

Our physicians are among the best

As children grow their airway and lungs grow and change. It is important that their tracheostomy and home ventilator care is managed by neonatal and pediatric trained specialists. Our program’s multidisciplinary approach and commitment to the highest quality of care makes our program the premier tracheostomy/home ventilator program in the region. Your child will receive care from multiple expertly trained physicians including pediatric pulmonologists, pediatric otolaryngologists, neonatologists, pediatric critical care specialists, and pediatric anesthesiologists. Our doctors are among the best in the nation and rank among The Best Doctors in America.

Program highlights

  • We have treated over 1,000 children with tracheostomies since the inception of our program in 1984.
  • Our program was one of the first in the country to discharge children to home on a ventilator.
  • We currently care for over 150 children living in the Midwest.
  • The Tracheostomy/Home Ventilator Program is part of the Division of Pediatric Pulmonary and Sleep Medicine, which has been named among the nation's best in U.S. News & World Report's since 2018.
  • Our program developed an educational manual and multiple teaching videos for parents and caregivers who care for a child with a tracheostomy.
  • Our interdisciplinary team offers a Pediatric Ventilator Certification Course to home care nurses monthly.

The family experience

  • We believe that trust, education, and open communication are the key components to building strong relationships with children and their families, especially when a tracheostomy is first being discussed.
  • We have a multidisciplinary team that works closely with each child and his or her family. Team members include a pulmonary physician, otolaryngologist, respiratory care practitioner, social worker, speech therapist, and case manager.
  • A trach/vent nurse is assigned to work with the family to manage and coordinate both inpatient and outpatient care.
  • All families and caregivers participate in a training program to prepare them to care for their child with a tracheostomy at home.
  • Home care nurses receive ventilator training certification by our respiratory and nursing staff as required by the state of Wisconsin to care for a child on a home ventilator.
  • We work closely with school nurses and educators to facilitate the child's transition back to school.
  • Our speech therapists educate and share information with local community speech therapists to promote effective therapy plans to care for a child with a tracheostomy.
  • We contact local EMS services and energy companies alerting them that a child is on a ventilator in their area.
Appointment request or contact us

To request an appointment or have questions, please call:

(414) 266-6730

Tracheostomy Care Notebook