The Stutman Cardiac Outreach Program
The Stutman Cardiac Outreach Program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) provides specialized medical care, family education and access to social service resources for our most vulnerable patients – infants and toddlers under 18 months and their caregivers – after being discharged from a first cardiac admission or cardiac surgery.
After your child is discharged from CHOP, our Stutman Cardiac Nurse Navigator will follow up to check on important needs, such as feeding, surgical incision care, medical equipment, emotional support, and access to any community services. Our team works closely with CHOP dietitians, speech language pathologists, cardiac surgeons, and cardiologists, as well as community providers. The Stutman Program ensures your family gets the help you need to adjust to life at home until your child’s first follow-up appointment.
How we serve you
The Stutman Program supports cardiac families, providing a bridge between discharge and outpatient care. We work alongside other outpatient support programs, such as the Infant Single Ventricle Monitoring Program and Cardiac Care Management to ensure every child and their caregivers receive the support they need.
Meet your team
Our dedicated team of cardiac experts is here to ensure a seamless transition from the hospital to home. We also support communication and collaboration between CHOP’s Cardiac Center and community healthcare providers.
Why choose the Stutman Program
We know how stressful it can be to bring home a young child with medical needs. Our team is here to help reduce your stress and empower you with resources during this difficult time. We provide targeted care and ongoing monitoring, including:
- Surgical wound monitoring to enhance healing and lower the risk of infection
- Feeding support through telephone check-ins and collaboration with CHOP’s Nutrition and Speech departments
- Guidance for when and how to wean your child off tube feedings if needed
- Psychosocial support
- Assistance navigating the healthcare system and community services
- Partnering with referring cardiologists to ensure a smooth and informed transition to outpatient care
- Identifying referral services connecting non-local families to resources outside of CHOP
Donate to the Cardiac Center
Your donation helps fund ongoing support for children and families at the Cardiac Center. Help us to provide the best possible care by making a gift.
