Inpatient Brain Injury Rehabilitation for Children

If your child has sustained a brain injury and is in need of inpatient rehabilitation care, the Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program at the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Pediatric Unit can help.

The multidisciplinary team at the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Pediatric Unit will assess your child and develop a personalized treatment plan, based on both clinical and evidence-based best practices, to help your child achieve his or her maximum function. Child and family education is also a critical part of the process.

Good Shepherd's Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program is appropriate for children, ages 0 to 21, who have sustained traumatic or non-traumatic brain injuries.

Learn about Good Shepherd's Brain Injury Support Group for Teens.

The Process

• First, a Good Shepherd nurse liaison meets with the child and family in the acute-care hospital to determine if the child can benefit from inpatient rehabilitation. A consult from a physician board-certified in pediatrics and physical medicine and rehabilitation may be ordered. If the patient is deemed appropriate for this level of care, a referral is made, pre-admission paperwork is completed and the child is transferred to the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Pediatric Unit.
• Upon arrival at the Pediatric Unit, each child receives a comprehensive evaluation from the interdisciplinary clinical team.
• A comprehensive treatment plan is then developed for each child.
• During his or her stay, each child receives daily medical management by a pediatrician and a physician board-certified in pediatrics and physical medicine and rehabilitation, along with daily physical, occupational, speech or recreational therapy.
• You and your child will participate in weekly meetings with the care team to develop goals, assess progress and discuss the treatment plan.
• Full discharge planning and education is provided to ensure that each child is safely transitioned to home with maximum function and independence. Education will be provided on the stages of brain injury, behavior management, ongoing nursing or medical care, functional mobility, safety, medical equipment and community resources.

Good Shepherd’s Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program inpatient services include:

• Pre-admission evaluation by nurse liaison upon referral
• Comprehensive evaluation upon admission
• Ongoing assessment and consultation with referral sources
• Complete diagnostic studies, as needed, including laboratory services
• Spasticity management
• Parent and caregiver education
• Pain management
• Wheelchair assessment and modifications, as needed
• Discharge planning and referral to community resources

Pediatric Sensory Stimulation Program

The Sensory Stimulation Program is available for children who are emerging from a coma state and who are level I-IV on the Rancho Los Amigos Cognitive Function Scale. 

The program selectively stimulates six sensory areas to facilitate overall cognitive arousal. Areas stimulated include auditory, visual, motor, oromotor/verbal function, communication and arousal. Stimulation is given to each sense individually in short intervals, followed by an equal amount of strict rest with minimal to no stimulation.  The program allows for frequent observation of patient progress, prevents sensory deprivation and is thought to improve recovery of impaired brain function.

Progress in the Sensory Stimulation Program is measured using the JFK Coma Recovery Scale, which assigns a numeric value to the amount and quality of response given by a child as he or she emerges from a coma. Ratings are taken each day and recorded on a flow sheet.

Good Shepherd’s Pediatric Care Team is responsible for stimulating each of the six sensory areas and rating responses.

Your Care Team in Good Shepherd's Brain Injury Rehabilitation Program:

Pediatrician: A board-certified pediatrician medically manages the treatment of each child and coordinates the work of other professionals on the therapy team.

Pediatric Physiatrist: A physicial who is board certified in pediatrics and rehabilitation medicine coordinates the work of the Pediatric Brain Injury Program team and manages spasticity and neuropathic pain.

Pediatric Rehabilitation Nurses: Expert nurses evaluate and monitor each child, including height and weight. They also develop care plans in collaboration with the team, and they oversee each child's progress and education.

Physical Therapist (PT): A PT works with each child to improve strength, range of motion, balance and mobility.

Occupational Therapist (OT): An OT provides sensory needs assessment and intervention and works with each child on activities of daily living.

Speech-Language Pathologist (SLP): A certified speech language pathologist (SLP) evaluates each child and recommends treatment plans to address issues with speaking, swallowing, cognitive impairments and other disorders.

Neuropsychologist: Neuropsychologists, who specialize in brain injury, review the needs of the child and family and provides services to assist with coping, social reintegration and post-traumatic stress. Neuropsychologists also play active roles in the process of school re-entry and placement, and the establishment of necessary accommodations at school.

Care Manager: Working directly with the child, family and care team, care managers complete assessments, coordinate ongoing care with the patient’s insurance company and assist with any necessary discharge plans. Care managers also connect families to community resources and help them meet the challenges of their child's new circumstances.

Recreational Therapists: A recreational therapist works with each child to improve his or her physical and cognitive skills, to promote socialization and to assist with the development of new or adjusted recreational activities in spite of physical limitations.

Respiratory Therapists: Respiratory therapists work with each patient to improve breathing efficiency and address other respiratory needs.

Teacher: A teacher is available to ensure that each child is keeping up with school work (depending on the ability of the child), and to assist with school re-entry.

Location:
Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Pediatric Unit
2855 Schoenersville Rd.
Bethlehem, PA  18017

Contact:
Phone: 610-807-4200

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