Pediatric Rehabilitation Program

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Pediatric Rehabilitation Program

The Pediatric Rehabilitation Program at Franciscan Hospital for Children focuses on helping each child recover following illness or injury to his or her fullest potential. 

Our program embraces the child as a whole and addresses each individual’s medical, therapeutic, social and emotional needs. 

Our program promotes social development and emotional well-being by incorporating frequent opportunities for age-appropriate play and leisure activities throughout the child’s stay and rehabilitation process.

The children we serve:

Franciscan Hospital for Children is the largest pediatric rehabilitation hospital in New England and serves children from around the region, nationally and internationally.  Patients range in age from infants to young adults. 

Some children have been involved in accidents, while others have medical illnesses that require rehabilitation services.   Patients are transferred from acute care hospitals when it is appropriate for the focus to change from medical management to more intensive rehabilitative efforts.  Typical conditions that children in this program might have include:

• Traumatic brain injury
• Stroke
• Brain tumors
• Spinal cord injury
• Orthopedic conditions
• Encephalitis
• Meningitis
• Myelodysplasia
• Neuromuscular conditions
• Seizure disorders
• Spina Bifida

Family centered, individualized care:

Our patients and their families are integral members of our interdisciplinary team which works together to address all areas of the child’s medical, physical, cognitive and social functioning.  A core team of pediatric experts includes the pediatrician, physical therapist, occupational therapist, speech-language pathologist, psychologist, social worker, nutritionist, child life specialist, education coordinator and discharge planner, led by a board-certified physiatrist. 

There is also a patient advocate and family liaison available on call around the clock for parents who want to discuss any areas of concern regarding their child’s care.  The same staff members follow each child from admission through discharge so the child and family have an opportunity to build rapport.  This helps promote optimal communication which contributes to treatment effectiveness. 

At Franciscan, discharge planning begins the day of admission.  The team works to ensure that community services and supports are available to ease school and community reintegration.  Our outpatient departments remain available for follow-up post-discharge to address any ongoing needs if necessary and assure continuity of care. 

Meet the Franciscan Hospital for Children's Clinical team.

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