The rehabilitation therapists at Sub-Acute Saratoga Children's Hospital are renowned for their expertise in providing therapy to medically compromised children. Our staff consists of in house pediatric trained Occupational, Physical, and Speech Therapy. The pediatric rehab team work to attain their highest level of function and/or development. Each member of the therapy department has more than 20 years of experience, including advanced training in neurodevelopment. The department takes pleasure in the success of its patients.
Department Highlights:
- Specializes in the treatment of medically fragile children.
- NDT Certified Occupational and Physical Therapists.
- Treatment and intervention for children with spinal cord injuries, including high quads.
- Experience in treating comatose patients to walking wounded.
- Expertise in treating children with other neurological, muscular, and orthopedic disorders.
- Expertise in treating children with prematurity, congenital, neurological and/or complex medical conditions.
- Specializes in oral motor feeding programs of all ages.
- Advanced training in pediatric feeding.
- Participates in comprehensive Interdisciplinary Team Meetings.
- Rounds with physiatrist, pediatric orthopedic surgeon and other specialists as needed.
- Coordinates services with orthopedic and wheelchair vendors for custom wheelchairs and specialty braces (Charleston Braces, Providence Braces, TLSO's).
- Vast experience with tone management and spasticity.
- Provides a comprehensive tone management program.
- Monitors effectiveness of complex pharmaceutical interventions.
- Collaborates with physicians evaluating for appropriateness of Interthecal Baclofen Pumps and assessing effectiveness once placed.
- Provides ongoing therapeutic interventions.
- Customizes individualized bed and wheelchair positioning programs.
- Implements complex splinting and serial casting programs.
- Jungle theme therapy room is equipped with:
- Mat
- Parallel Bars
- Tilt Table
- Hydraulic Standing Frame
- Therapy Balls and Bolsters
Sub-Acute Children’s Hospital serves a unique and diverse population; therefore, the rehabilitation therapy department has implemented 3 different programs to ensure each patient reaches their highest functional and/or developmental potential.
Sub-Acute Active Rehabilitation Program:
The Sub-Acute Active Rehabilitation Program is designed to rehabilitate patients to their highest level of function while they are simultaneously healing and being weaned off technology assistance. This program usually consists of traumatic brain and spinal cord injuries. The rehab department also specializes in other neurological, muscular and orthopedic disorders. The Sub-Acute Active Rehab Program is designed to allow the patient to heal while receiving therapy and to build their endurance. The ultimate goal of this program is to increase the patient’s endurance and function to enter an acute rehab program or be discharged to home with their families.
Program includes but is not limited to:
- Occupational, Physical and Speech Therapy
- Upright Tolerance and Endurance Training
- Neuro Muscular Retraining
- Visual/Perceptual/Cognitive Retraining
- Mobility Training
- ADL Retraining
- Splinting and Serial Casting
- Speech and Language Retraining
- Dysphagia Training
Developmental Therapy Program:
Children born with prematurity, congenital, neurological and or complex medical conditions receive therapy to help achieve normal developmental milestones. Technologically-dependent children are given the opportunity to learn how to crawl, sit, walk, and play, even while hooked up to a ventilator. The rehabilitation team coordinates treatment with the respiratory department allowing each child to explore their home like environments to the fullest potential while receiving therapy. The children receive individualized and group therapy as tolerated in coordination with the activity personnel and respiratory therapist
Program includes:
- Occupational Therapy, Physical, and Speech Therapy as indicated
- Gross and Fine Motor Development
- Play Skills
- Feeding Readiness
- Oral Motor Assessment
- Speech, Language and Social Development
Maintenance Program:
All children admitted to Sub-Acute Saratoga Children’s Hospital are screened upon admission by a member of the pediatric rehabilitation team. Each child will receive an individualized program to ensure their quality of life and highest level of potential is met. The children will be followed on a regular basis to monitor for changes and/or adaptations in their program.
These services are as follows:
- Bed and Wheelchair Positioning Programs
- Tone Management with Splints, Serial Casting, and Positioning
- RNA Program (Restorative Nursing Assistant) to maintain range of motion
- Range of motion monitoring
- Rehab Department to monitor spasticity, range of motion, splints, and wheelchair and positioning needs as necessary.
