Blythedale Launches Innovative Pediatric Respiratory Therapy Residency Program

In response to the persistent nationwide shortage of respiratory therapists due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Blythedale Children’s Hospital in Westchester County has developed the first Pediatric Respiratory Therapy Residency Program in New York State. This comprehensive one-year training program provides new graduates with professional development and didactic learning opportunities, with the oversight of a NYS licensed respiratory therapy preceptor. By providing respiratory therapists with the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in a real-world health care setting, the program ensures they will be well prepared to meet the needs of Blythedale’s medically complex patients and their families. Residents will also receive board exam preparation and grand rounds opportunities with medical staff.

At Blythedale Children’s Hospital more than 70% of its patients require respiratory support and management, the majority of which are infants and children at some stage in the ventilator-weaning process. Of those children, approximately 70% are successfully weaned. In the past year alone, the Hospital treated 50 children with very high ventilator settings due to severe bronchopulmonary dysplasia, a serious chronic respiratory condition that most frequently occurs in low birth weight or extremely prematurely born infants.

Many respiratory therapists are drawn to Blythedale by the volume and complexity of the cases, as well as the treatment modalities and therapies they can employ to achieve desired outcomes in a wide range of patients.

“All hospitals are struggling with recruitment and retention, driven largely by the travel market,” said Jill Wegener, M.S.N., R.N., C.C.R.N.. “This new residency program provides a seamless transition for the new graduate interested in working with a complex and diverse pediatric population. We provide a tremendous learning opportunity for new respiratory therapists that builds their competence and confidence.”

Overseeing the program and Blythedale’s 24/7 team of 30 full- and part-time respiratory therapists is the Hospital’s new director of Respiratory Therapy Services, Jade Almendrala, MBA, RRT, RRT-NPS, ACCS. Mr. Almendrala brings a decade of experience, an extensive background in adult, pediatric, critical care, and sub-acute healthcare settings, and an enthusiasm for training the next generation of respiratory therapists.

“I was drawn to Blythedale by the opportunity to work with a pediatric population with such wide-ranging and complex diagnoses,” said Almendrala. “We now have a very exciting opportunity to further expand our expertise with a talented pool of new candidates.

The Hospital held its first round of interviews with potential residents this week.