Children and adolescents in our acute inpatient rehabilitation program participate in various therapeutic services three to six hours each day, depending on their specific needs. For some patients, weekend therapy is also appropriate. Each child’s interdisciplinary care team meets on a regular basis to review their goals and progress, making necessary adjustments to provide the best possible outcomes.
In addition to rehabilitation, school services are important to children’s growth and development. Our psychologists, therapy team and child life specialists work with each child’s school to create a plan to keep up with their academic needs, with dedicated school time during their inpatient stay.
When it is time to return to school, our clinicians work with each family to determine the steps needed to make a smooth transition. We create a truly customized plan that addresses each child’s unique needs so they can feel confident going back to the classroom.
Pediatric and adolescent patients with the following diagnoses may benefit from inpatient rehabilitation:
Brain Injuries/Dysfunction
Spinal Cord Injuries/Dysfunction
Other Neuromuscular Conditions
Rheumatological Conditions
- Systemic lupus erythematosus
- Dermatomyositis/Polymyositis
Musculoskeletal Conditions
Deconditioning
Cancer
- Brain tumor
- Spinal cord tumor
- Deconditioning following cancer treatments
Treating the Whole Child with a Comprehensive Plan
Each pediatric care team is led by a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician. Depending on the child’s specific needs and goals, we put together a team of highly trained clinical providers to work together to help the child make significant progress during therapy.
Care Team Members May Include:
- Physical medicine and rehabilitation physician
- Pediatric hospitalist/pediatrician
- Pediatric subspecialists
- Child Lifelife specialist
- School services specialist
- Physical therapist
- Occupational therapist
- Speech-language pathologist
- Rehabilitation nurse
- Psychologist/Neuropsychologist
- Music therapist
- Recreational therapist
- Social worker/Case manager
- Dietitian
When needed, we also work with additional specialists including neurosurgeons, orthopedic surgeons, oncologists or neurologists.
We are Different: Advanced Care with a Unique Approach
When your child suffers a severe injury or illness, choosing the right rehabilitation program can make all the difference. TIRR Memorial Hermann’s nationally renowned program provides a truly unique experience. Our highly specialized care providers, access to the latest research and technological advances, and a facility designed for children’s specialized needs means your child has the tools they need to work toward the best possible outcome.
We are here to help your child come home as soon as possible, with compassionate care and therapy that works. That’s what rehabilitation is about: restoring function and returning home.
Our Mission: Return Children to Their Homes, Schools and Communities
From day one, our therapists and physicians work tirelessly to help transition children back to their regular lives. We focus on intensive, active rehabilitation to get children back to being children.
Continuous Care: Infancy to Adulthood
Children do not “age out” of our pediatric rehabilitation program. We are dedicated to providing consistent care for as long as each patient needs. Because TIRR Memorial Hermann offers exceptional pediatric, adolescent and adult therapeutic services, children can seamlessly progress through their rehabilitation without having to relocate to another health care system.
We build on the progress made during each stage of rehabilitation to help children mature and grow as they recover from their illness or injury. Continuity of care is central to our program.
Family-Centered Approach
We value each patient’s family as an important part of the process. From the very beginning, our care team works with parents and caregivers to discuss options and decide, together, the best plan of action. Throughout your child’s rehabilitation, physicians and therapists continue to collaborate with families to assess how things are going and to ensure everyone is on the right track to returning your child home.
Advanced, Specialized Therapy
Each TIRR Memorial Hermann therapist has advanced, extensive training to meet the specialized needs of children and adolescents. Combining exceptional therapy with unmatched care from our esteemed physicians gives your child an advantage you won’t find elsewhere.
What to Expect
Intense and Active Rehabilitation
Most patients can expect a busy schedule, with at least three hours of therapy each day, outside of their hospital room.
The day starts with children getting up and out of their rooms, wearing typical clothing and shoes. Therapy doesn’t happen in patient rooms. Children are actively engaged in our pediatric gym, working hard with therapists and challenging themselves to regain strength and function.
Our specialized care includes intensive and aggressive therapy, with compassion and encouragement along the way. When kids are dressed in their usual clothes, they are ready to be active in a more familiar setting, working to restore their sense of wellbeing.
Daily Care from Physicians
Each child sees a pediatrician every day, including weekends, to manage any medical needs. A pediatric physical medicine and rehabilitation physician will also be actively involved in their care. Parents and caregivers are able to talk with the physician team, ask questions and collaborate on the care plan.
Seamless Coordination of Care
Our care team understands that each child has needs that extend beyond daily rehabilitation. Child life specialists work with schools to make sure each child has the academic resources they need. Our case managers and social workers can coordinate post-discharge needs, including any special equipment needed and physician follow-up appointments, to ensure a seamless transition to the next level of care.