Simulation-Based Discharge Program
If your child requires a specialized medical device to breathe or eat, it’s important for you to know how to use it properly. With Weill Cornell Medicine’s one-of-a-kind Simulation-Based Discharge Program, you learn to clean and care for these devices, so your child transitions home safely and you have peace of mind.
Inspired by Caregivers for Caregivers
Weill Cornell Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian Komansky Children’s Hospital Patient-Family Advisory Council member Courtney Nataraj knows firsthand the challenges and stress faced by caregivers when transitioning home. As the parent of a child who used medical technology, she was determined to ease this journey for others. Inspired by her experience, Courtney proposed the idea that became the Simulation-Based Discharge Program.
In 2016, her vision took shape when the Weill Cornell Medicine NewYork-Presbyterian Simulation Center, in collaboration with Dr. Normaliz Rodriguez, transformed her idea into a comprehensive, family-centered training initiative. Through hands-on, experiential learning, the program empowers caregivers with the confidence and skills needed to safely provide routine care for their children at home.
How the Program Works
The Simulation-Based Discharge Program is for all caregivers of children with new tracheostomy or gastrostomy tubes to improve caregiver competency and comfort level and reduce complication rates for our young patients. The only one of its kind in the area, this program includes two distinct parts: simulation-based education and peer support.
Hands-On Medical Device Training
Before your child is discharged with a new medical device, you get hands-on experience caring for the device. During this training, you can expect:
- A step-by-step training guide developed by Weill Cornell Medicine nurses and doctors
- Evidence-based instruction provided by compassionate experts
- Opportunities to practice and master device skills on a mannequin under the watchful eye of trained professionals
Our teaching sessions are enriched by the simulated learning resources provided by the Weill Cornell Medicine NewYork-Presbyterian Simulation Center, along with the invaluable expertise of our dedicated simulation specialists.
Following your child’s discharge, you can view training videos online. This access allows you to brush up on your skills and continue to gain confidence from the comfort of your home.
A Supportive Community
Caring for a child with a medical device presents unique challenges. Fortunately, you don’t have to face them alone. Your Weill Cornell Medicine care team is available to answer any questions you may have. Additionally, you can reach out to other caregivers.
Our Simulation-Based Discharge Program connects you to the hospital’s Family Advisory Council, a parent-to-parent telephone support network. This puts you in touch with others who have been in your shoes to get advice or encouragement or just talk with others who understand this journey.
This unique support network is yours for six months after your child is discharged.
Conditions We Treat
The Simulation-Based Discharge Program currently serves caregivers of children with tracheostomy or gastrostomy tubes.
For tracheostomy (trach tube), a pediatric surgeon places a tube inside an incision in the neck. This tube opens into the windpipe and helps your child breathe. It also provides a way to clean out mucus and other lung secretions.
A tracheostomy may help if your child experiences the following airway and breathing conditions:
- Blocked airway
- Inability to breathe without assistance
A gastrostomy tube (G-tube) is a soft, plastic tube connected to your child’s stomach through a small abdominal incision. This tube allows you to nourish your child when chewing or swallowing is difficult or impossible.
Children may need a gastrostomy tube for the following reasons:
- Feeding disorders, such as uncontrollable food aversion
- Malnutrition
- Potential risk for inhaling food into the lungs
- Severe swallowing problems (dysphagia)
Our Care Team
Members of the Simulation-Based Discharge Program are specially trained to help you manage pediatric medical devices. Committed to providing families with the best possible care for their child’s tracheostomy and gastrostomy tube needs, our team is here to ensure understanding and confidence, so you return home empowered to care for your little one. Members of the team include:
- MacKenzi Preston, M.D., MHPE, director of the Simulation-Based Discharge Program
- Jane Harrington, neonatal nurse practitioner
- Olivia Gasser, pediatric surgery nurse practitioner
- Lilly Fox, RN
- Tricia Budway, RN
- Courtney Nataraj
- Kevin Ching, M.D.
- S. Nena Osorio, M.D.
- Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Simulation Center staff
Our Partners and Collaborators
We have had the privilege of partnering with students and experts from local institutions to provide patient-centered, innovative teaching.
Cornell Institute of Technology
Two interdisciplinary student teams - from Cornell Tech, Weill Cornell Clinical & Translational Science Center and New York City community organizations - devised two distinct approaches for creating affordable, in-house, 3D-printed training models.
To ensure the continuity and scalability of their work, the teams documented their process extensively, sharing all digital assets so that staff at the Simulation Center could replicate and further refine the models based on evolving patient needs.
City College of New York Spitzer School of Architecture
Students at The City College of New York designed a mobile learning workstation for the NewYork-Presbyterian Hospital Simulation-Based Discharge Program (SBDP). To meet the personalized needs of caregiver teaching sessions, the students designed a mobile workstation to function as both a transport vessel and learning platform. The colorful exterior complements the pediatric unit’s subway décor theme and adds a playful touch to learning sessions. By increasing efficiency, the Simulation-Based Discharge Program has been able to serve more families.
Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Simulation Center
Our teaching sessions are enhanced by learning resources available through the onsite Weill Cornell Medicine/NewYork-Presbyterian Simulation Center and the expert assistance of our simulation specialists.
Contact the Simulation Center: simulation@med.cornell.edu.
Educational Resources
Whether you graduated from Weill Cornell Medicine’s Simulation-Based Discharge Program or are just starting your educational journey, these resources can help as you care for your child with confidence and competency.
Caring for Your Child’s Mic-Key or MiniONE Button Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube)
Changing Your Child’s Mic-Key Button Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube)
Caring for Your Child’s Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube or PEG-Tube)
Caring for Your Child’s Standard Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube)
Gastrostomy Tube (G-Tube) Frequently Asked Questions
Make an Appointment
(212) 746-3131
sdp@med.cornell.edu
525 E. 68th St., Box 139
New York, NY 10065