The Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit provides comprehensive and interdisciplinary treatment, evaluation and follow-up services for patients with decreased function due to a variety of causes, including:
- Brain injury
- Spinal cord injury
- Chronic pain
- Complex medical conditions
- Orthopedic surgery
Throughout a patient's stay on the Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit, therapy goals are discussed on a daily basis, with the patient and family playing a critical role on the treatment team. The Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit provides 24-hour medical, nursing, and respiratory care, as well as intensive therapy services to meet the patient's needs and medical condition. Our team is able to care for patients with tracheostomies, feeding tubes, ventilators, central lines, or other medically complex issues.
One of the unique aspects of our program is that, in addition to specific individual therapies, children spend time in Dr. James Christensen's Therapy Center. Here, specialists conduct group treatment activities through leisure and recreational activities that target individual treatment goals. Additionally, community outings are designed for patients as appropriate. These provide real life experiences that help extend a patient's rehabilitation into his or her community life.
Consultative services are available through both Kennedy Krieger Institute and Johns Hopkins Hospital. These include, but are not limited to: developmental pediatrics, gastroenterology, neurology, neurosurgery, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, psychiatry, pulmonary, ENT, and radiology.
Discharge planning begins prior to admission and is coordinated with the referring physician, insurance case managers, family, school and other community agencies. Caregiver training occurs throughout your child's stay. Educators are provided to assist with transitioning back to school. The majority of patients treated on the Pediatric Rehabilitation Unit are discharged to home. Many continue treatment through another part of the Rehabilitation Continuum of Care, which includes the Specialized Transition Program and the Community Rehabilitation Program.
Our Team:
Rehabilitation plans are developed under the direction of a rehabilitation physician. Working as an interdisciplinary team, treatment is provided by:
- Physicians
- Nurse Practitioners
- Physical Therapists
- Occupational Therapists
- Speech and Language Pathologists
- Audiologists
- Neuropsychologists
- Pediatric Psychologists
- Social Workers
- Nurses
- Respiratory Therapists
- Nutritionists
- Hospital Teachers
- Educators
- Child Life/Recreational Therapists