Pathways: New Programs Bring Focused, Specialized Care in Pediatrics
Introduction
Home NG
Over the past several months, faculty in Neonatal-Perinatal Medicine and Pediatric Gastroenterology have collaborated to launch a Home Nasogastric (NG) Feeding Program for infants transitioning from the NICU to home. A rarity for most pediatric centers in the Midwest, the Home NG Program represents an important advancement in family-centered neonatal care.
Historically, many infants with feeding challenges remain hospitalized while learning to feed completely by mouth or undergo surgery to place a gastrostomy tube (G-tube) before discharge. The Home NG Program allows carefully selected infants, who are otherwise medically stable, to return home with temporary NG feeding support while continuing to develop feeding skills in the comfort and familiarity of home. This approach promotes parent engagement and confidence, reduces unnecessary hospitalization, and, in many cases, avoids the need for a surgical feeding tube altogether.
Key to the program’s success is the outpatient infrastructure with a clinical component to offer follow-up access and family support systems to make this program successful. The contributions of Pediatric GI are essential to ensure these infants receive seamless, high-quality care from hospital discharge through successful advancement of feeding at home.
The impact of these programs has been demonstrated nationally. Published studies have shown that infants discharged home with NG feeding support can experience significantly shorter NICU stays without increased healthcare utilization or reduced family quality of life. In one study, a home NG program saved more than 1,500 NICU days while maintaining excellent patient outcomes. Additionally, standardized home feeding programs have been shown to safely reduce hospital length of stay, decrease exposure to invasive procedures, and support family-centered care.
The launch of this program highlights the value of innovation, interdisciplinary collaboration, value-based care, and improving the patient and family experience. Most importantly, it allows families to spend more time together at home while still receiving the support they need from our specialized teams.
Aerodigestive Program
The Aerodigestive Program is a coordinated care model designed for children with complex conditions involving the airway, lungs, and gastrointestinal tract. It brings together specialists from Pediatric Gastroenterology, ENT, Pulmonology, and Pediatric Surgery, along with essential support services such as Speech-Language Pathology (SLP) and Dietetics. Care is delivered through a combination of inpatient and ambulatory services, including a dedicated multidisciplinary monthly clinic where patients can be evaluated by multiple providers in a single visit.
The program developed in response to the growing recognition that children with aerodigestive disorders often require highly coordinated, cross-specialty care. Historically, families navigated multiple separate appointments and fragmented care plans. Through collaboration between Pediatric GI and ENT, along with strong partnerships with Pulmonology, Surgery, SLP, and Nutrition, the program offers an integrated model to streamline evaluation, improve communication, and standardize care pathways.
The program improves the patient and family experience by providing coordinated, comprehensive care. Children benefit from consolidated visits with multiple specialists. more timely and accurate diagnoses, unified care plans across disciplines, and enhanced feeding, respiratory, and nutritional outcomes. Families also benefit from clearer communication and fewer logistical burdens.
Inflammatory Bowel Disease Program
The Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Program is a comprehensive care model for children with Crohn’s disease, ulcerative colitis, and related conditions. It involves coordinated care led by Pediatric Gastroenterology, with integrated support from Dietetics and Pediatric Psychology to address the complex medical, nutritional, and psychosocial needs of these patients and their families. Care is delivered through both outpatient and inpatient services, with an emphasis on individualized treatment plans, close monitoring, and long-term disease management.
With a focus on standardized, high-quality care for children with chronic gastrointestinal conditions, a key component is the program’s participation in the ImproveCareNow (ICN) network, a national collaborative focused on improving outcomes in pediatric IBD. This led to the implementation of evidence-based care pathways, quality improvement initiatives, and data-driven practices to ensure consistent, high-level care.
The program provides patients with coordinated care including medical, nutritional, and psychological care; continuous monitoring of disease activity and outcomes through participation in the ICN network and monthly division meetings; personalized treatment plans that address both physical symptoms and quality of life; and support for families navigating a chronic condition, including education and coping strategies.
Most importantly, outcomes compare favorably with national benchmarks within the ImproveCareNow network. This reflects the quality and consistency of care delivered through this program.
This article is part of the Fall 2026 issue of Pathways magazine.