Families caring for medically complex children now have a groundbreaking new resource at Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital: the state’s first in-hospital simulated home environment.
Known as Sim Home, the space offers parents and caregivers a unique overnight experience where they can practice caring for their child in a homelike setting before discharge.
Ranken Jordan is the only hospital of its kind in Missouri and one of just a handful nationwide specializing in children with the most complex conditions, illnesses, and injuries. The hospital provides a vital transition between acute care and home life, serving children and young adults from birth to age 21.
Founded in 1941 by philanthropist Mary Ranken Jordan as a convalescent home for children with diseases such as polio, the organization has evolved over decades to meet changing medical needs. It became a licensed children’s hospital in 2002 and moved to its current state-of-the-art facility in Maryland Heights in 2004.
Its mission remains clear: to bridge the gap between hospital care and home life.
For families, that transition can be daunting. Caring for a child who relies on medical equipment such as tracheostomy tubes or ventilators requires specialized training. While Ranken Jordan has long provided caregiver education, Sim Home takes it a step further by allowing families to rehearse daily routines in a realistic environment while still supported by hospital staff.
“When a child is discharged, the family goes from having 10 or more Ranken Jordan staff taking care of their child to going home and it’s just them,” said Kristin LaRose, Chief Nursing Officer. “The purpose of Sim Home is to allow patients and their families to re-establish themselves as a family and build the confidence they need to know they can take care of their child safely when they get home.”
The idea for Sim Home was inspired by a visit to Bethany Children’s Health Center in Oklahoma, which features a mocked-up home environment. Ranken Jordan’s team adapted the concept, creating a space where families can stay overnight and “practice” life with their child before leaving the hospital.
Sim Home is part of Ranken Jordan’s broader philosophy, Care Beyond the Bedside, which emphasizes caring for the whole child and family. To ease the transition home, the hospital provides families with a free “Go Bag” stocked with medical supplies and even restaurant gift cards to help during the first 48 hours.
The hospital’s approach also highlights play, movement, and social connection as essential parts of healing. Children are encouraged to spend time outside their rooms daily, with access to playgrounds, a therapy gym, an aqua therapy pool, and activity areas designed to be child-friendly and accessible.
By combining medical expertise with family-focused support, Ranken Jordan is setting a new standard for pediatric care in Missouri. Sim Home not only prepares caregivers for the challenges ahead but also reinforces the hospital’s ultimate goal: ensuring children return home safely, confidently, and surrounded by love.
“Ranken Jordan patients are often in the hospital for a prolonged period of time, which can be stressful on a family,” said Dr. Nick Holekamp, Chief Health Transformation Officer. “We believe taking care of a patient’s family is just as important as taking care of the child. Kids thrive when they’re with the people they love, so getting a patient home safely is critical to their well-being and healing.”
To support Ranken Jordan, visit rankenjordanfoundation.org/donate.