Aerodigestive Program

Our Approach

The team approach in our Aerodigestive Program helps improve the quality of care for our patients and families by involving multiple medical specialties at the same time. Our aerodigestive team includes an otolaryngologist (ear nose, and throat doctor), pulmonologist (lung doctor), gastroenterologist (upper digestive tract doctor) and speech therapist (swallowing, feeding specialist). We work together to help children with medical conditions such as:

• complex airway problems (voice box, floppy airways, lung tubes)
• lung problems (cough, asthma, wheezing)
• feeding problems (aspiration, feeding, choking)
• upper digestive tract (esophagus, stomach) problems

We discuss each child with all members of the team to determine the next best steps in evaluation and treatment. Our dedicated nurse coordinator to help families through this process.

The goals of our Aerodigestive Program are to:

• provide coordinated care from multiple specialties to our pediatric patients
• improve outcomes by coordinating appointments and any needed procedures under one sedation (procedures that require medicine to sleep) if possible
• participate in clinical research to improve long-term outcomes of children with airway, lung, feeding and upper digestive tract problems
• provide quick responses to your child’s pediatrician and referring doctors for ongoing care
• educate doctors who will be entering the field of aerodigestive care in the future

You and your child will meet with our team during your first clinic visit. We will work with you and your child’s doctor to develop a treatment plan that will provide the best outcome for your child.