Pediatric Rehabilitation

For pediatric patients who need medical and rehabilitation at the same time, we offer patient-and family-centered inpatient rehabilitation (also called pediatric rehab) at our National Center for Children’s Rehabilitation (NCCR) in Washington, D.C. This CARF-accredited program is a unique collaboration with one of the country’s leading pediatric hospitals, Children’s National Medical Center.

On our acute rehabilitation unit, our pediatric rehabilitation team cares for patients ages three to 18 who have suffered illness or injury, including but not limited to:

• Amputation
• Brain injury
• Cancer
• Cerebral palsy
• Functional neurological symptom disorder (FND)
• Genetic disorders (e.g., spinal muscular atrophy)
• Neurological conditions
• Nervous system disorders (e.g., spinal cord injury)
• Orthopedic conditions
• Stroke
• Trauma

Treatment begins with a complete evaluation of your child’s functional abilities and challenges. Based on the evaluation, an individualized treatment plan is developed, tailored to your child’s needs and goals. All of this care is family-focused, featuring education as well as emotional and social support services to help keep the family functioning well.

The intensive therapy services will most often include physical, speech, and occupational therapy, as well as therapeutic recreation. Patients will also benefit from the support of our pediatric rehabilitation psychologist, as needed.

Pediatric rehabilitation patients will receive intensive therapy five to six days a week for three hours a day. Play is also a critical aspect of treatment—children are encouraged to participate in scheduled activities like pet therapy, arts and crafts, and board games to promote socialization, which boosts recovery.

Program highlights

The center’s team of pediatric rehabilitation specialists—physicians, nurses, and therapists—treats the multiple physical, cognitive and behavioral effects of injury or illness in an integrated approach to care, which is developmentally appropriate and promotes each child’s optimal growth and development.

Patients and families benefit from:

• Comprehensive therapies, including pediatric physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech-language therapy, recreational therapy, music therapy, and others
• Access to an Education Liaison who is a critical part of the care team and serves as patients’ advocate to ease the transition from hospital to school and as a communication bridge between
• teachers, parents, and physicians, when needed.
• Inviting and engaging environments for individual and group play and therapy, including:
  • Adaptive games
  • Adaptive playground
  • Art experiences
  • Children's playroom
  • Computer games
  • Interactive video
  • Pediatric gym
• A family-centered approach, featuring overnight accommodations for parents and frequent family conferences.
• Emotional support and guidance from psychologists who help families cope with life adjustments.
• Onsite services for orthotics, casting, mobility, and rehabilitation engineering
• Advanced technologies and assistive devices, including the ZeroG® overground weight support system and the EkSO exoskeleton and other robotic devices. 

Upon completion of inpatient rehabilitation, patients will be referred for follow-up care, which may include outpatient therapy, home care services through MedStar Health Home Care, or school-based resources. 

Learn More About Inpatient Rehabilitation

Program outcomes

As a CARF-accredited Specialty Program, our Pediatric Rehabilitation program consistently meets and exceeds national benchmarks.

Pediatric Rehabilitation Program Outcomes at MedStar NRH

Outpatient physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy can help children and adolescents improve their physical, motor, sensory, behavioral, and cognitive abilities. Some patients are referred to outpatient services following discharge from an inpatient rehabilitation program. Because we offer dozens of outpatient clinics throughout the region, we can seamlessly transition your child to the appropriate outpatient support they need at a location close to home.

Other children and adolescents may also benefit from an outpatient physical therapy evaluation and/or ongoing treatment. Our program provides services to children with a wide range of diagnoses—including, but not limited to, the following:

• Autism spectrum disorder
• Cancer & blood-related diagnoses
• Cerebral palsy
• Developmental delay
• Genetic syndromes
• Idiopathic toe walking
• Intellectual disabilities
• Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis
• Musculoskeletal disorders
• Neurological injuries
• Prematurity
• Recovery after orthopedic surgery
• Sensory processing disorders
• Sports injuries
• Torticollis
• Traumatic injuries

Program highlights

Our multidisciplinary team works together to help pediatric patients achieve therapy goals through individualized care. Your child's rehabilitation team may include the following specialists:

• Physiatrists (doctors specializing in physical medicine and rehabilitation) guide and coordinate medical treatment that is focused on restoring your child's function and overall health
  
• Pediatric physical therapists who help children move to the best of their abilities using strategies to improve motor development, balance, posture control, strength, and coordination
  
• Pediatric occupational therapists who help infants and children improve independence with daily activities by strengthening fine motor skills, sensory integration, visual-motor integration, oral
• motor strategies, and self-help skills
  
• Speech therapists who help children communicate, understand others, and interact with peers and adults
  
• Dietitians, social workers, psychologists, recreational therapists, and others who can help promote health

We offer all of the pediatric rehabilitation services you'd expect⁠—and some you might not⁠—to improve their quality of life. Programs, tools, and services vary by location and may include:

• Adaptive Sports
• Concussion Clinic
• Home evaluation and accommodation
• Injury prevention
• Language and cognitive-communication therapy
• Low vision program
• Pain management
• Rehabilitation engineering
• Seating and Mobility Clinic
• Spasticity Clinic
• Support groups for patients and their family and friends
• Swallowing clinic
• Therapeutic recreation
• Virtual reality
• Voice disorders therapy

To find an outpatient pediatric therapy location near you, call 844-914-4868.