Jump Start Program

Jump Start provides just that: a medical “tune-up” through intensive bursts of inpatient rehabilitation and a team approach to care.

We care for children diagnosed with:

• Chronic illness, either congenital or acquired
• Spina bifida
• Cerebral palsy
• Failure to thrive
• Developmental disabilities
• Prior traumatic injuries (e.g., traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, burn, amputation) with a recent change in status, such as functional decline or gain
• Deconditioning
• Feeding disorders

The Jump Start Program is designed to:

• Develop a personalized medical “tune-up” plan for children, focused around intensive bursts of inpatient rehabilitation and led by a highly trained team
• Receive medical and therapeutic care during a short-term stay
• Evaluate and optimize what children need to be successful, including positioning, equipment, splinting, bracing and medication management
• Replicate home settings so children can adapt to their environment (or vice versa) to accomplish daily activities
• Educate child and parent/caregiver to promote success
• Provide school re-entry guidance

Assessing Childrens’ Needs

Care is provided at the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Emily Howatt Pliskatt Pediatric Unit in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. Our team assesses children to determine their needs relating to:

• Medication management
• Positioning
• Equipment
• Splinting
• Nutrition
• Pulmonary management
• Community support services
• Child and family education

From there, the Good Shepherd team develops a personalized treatment plan to help your child achieve goals and maximum function.

Multidisciplinary Care Team

• Pediatric physiatrist/pediatric hospitalist
• Nursing
• Physical therapy
• Occupational therapy
• Recreational therapy
• Respiratory therapy
• Speech therapy
• Care management
• Counseling
• Dietary