An estimated 8,000 children in the United States are dependent on mechanical ventilation at home. Despite technological advances for home monitoring of venti-
lated patients, the prevent-able death rate among these children has not changed
significantly during the last 2 decades. Analysis of the data indicate that the primary
causes of preventable death in ventilator-dependent chil-dren at home are inadequate
training, improper response, and a lack of vigilance by the clinicians who care for
them.