Tracheostomy Program
The Tracheostomy Program at Children’s Mercy provides a variety of trach-related services to children with a tracheostomy. Our collaborative team of specialists works with families in the hospital, at home and in their communities.
Within our hospital community, the tracheostomy team oversees trach-related education, safety and quality improvement, and coordinated care across different departments.
Outside of the hospital, we offer specialized clinics for infants and children with a tracheostomy, as well as training programs for parents, caregivers and community health professionals. We will support your family through your tracheostomy journey.
Our trach team actively connects with tracheostomy experts around the world to share knowledge and advancements in tracheostomy care. Together with national and international trach-related organizations, we work to help families everywhere have the best possible care for their child's tracheostomy needs.
Meet the Tracheostomy Program team.
Who is on my tracheostomy care team?
You can expect to meet many of the following care providers while your child is part of the Tracheostomy Program:
Pediatric specialists in pulmonology, ENT, neonatology and related areas will lead the team of doctors covering your child’s medical care. We are a teaching hospital, so you may also meet some of our fellows and residents alongside your other providers during your visits to Children’s Mercy.
Nurse practitioners are nurses with additional education and experience in working with trach patients and families. Their extensive training allows them to provide care that is similar in many respects to doctors.
The Tracheostomy Program has several nurses and respiratory therapists who work specifically with trach kids and their families as clinical coordinators.
Clinical coordinators will work as part of your child’s health care team to help support all your trach care needs. Your clinical coordinator will get to know your family well and be a valuable resource throughout your trach journey.
Clinical coordinators will help you with:
- Planning for all your home care needs
- Helping you establish at-home nursing care
- Accessing durable medical equipment (such as tracheostomy materials and related supplies)
- Learning about how to care for your child's trach before you are discharged from the hospital
- Scheduling your outpatient follow-up appointments and therapies
- Working with you and your insurance company to help you navigate that process
Clinical coordinators also lead educational classes for nurses and community providers on how to care for children with tracheostomies in schools, child care centers, and other community activities. They also train EMTs and other first responders on how to assist a child with a tracheostomy during an emergency.
Your child’s respiratory therapists will set up and monitor your child’s ventilator, when needed, as well as any other respiratory equipment that your child may need. They will give your child all respiratory medications and respiratory treatments they need during their inpatient stay and help with teaching you to care for your child’s respiratory needs outside the hospital.
Speech-Language Pathologists may work with your child on language development as well as feeding skills, especially in our pediatric tracheostomy clinic. They are consulted on every trach that is placed.
Your trach team can help you coordinate additional services such as occupational therapy (OT), physical therapy (PT), dietitian and nutritional consultations, and assistance from our social work team.
Clinical Services
The Infant Tracheostomy and Home Ventilator Clinic helps babies who need prolonged ventilator assistance to live at home while still receiving the respiratory support they need. We work together with your neonatology team to help your baby transition to living at home.
The Pediatric Tracheostomy and Home Ventilation Clinic cares for children of all ages who have a tracheostomy.
Children’s Mercy offers classes and training opportunities for health care providers, including EMS, home health nurses, school nurses and others who may care for children with tracheostomies. If you are interested in having Children's Mercy provide tracheostomy education to your health care agency or school staff, please click "Community Education" to access our request form.
Tracheostomy Program: Kieesha's story
If you want to know what life with a tracheostomy is like, just ask Kieesha. With the help of the Children's Mercy Tracheostomy Team, she's successfully managed life with a trach for almost all of her 9 years. In spite of her complex medical needs, Kieesha doesn't let her trach slow her down.
Resources for families
Families often find these resources helpful as they navigate their trach journey.
- Tracheostomy care – Suctioning
- Tracheostomy care - performing a trach change
- Tracheostomy care – changing the ties, stoma and neck care
- Essential tracheostomy care information - including "Go bag" list
- Tracheostomy Patient/Family Advisory Council (PFAC)
- POPS (Parents Offering Parent Support) Mentoring Program
- Annual Tracheostomy Family Day (on hold due to COVID-19)
- Resources for Children with Complex Medical Needs
Additional Resources
Contact us
If you have questions or concerns, you can call our ENT clinic at (816) 234-3040 and select option 5 to connect with our clinical coordinators. Established patients can also send us a message through the patient portal.