Inpatient Rehabilitation Program is a Bridge to Life After Traumatic Injuries

Timely Treatment and Proven Results

This kind of collaboration across all disciplines and departments at Shriners Children’s Northern California allows patients to be admitted to the inpatient rehabilitation unit (IRU) faster than at other institutions. This ensures that data-informed individual treatment plans are designed and implemented quickly so patients don’t lose precious recovery opportunities. This program design also ensures an environment where patients feel seen, heard, supported and encouraged to thrive.

Shriners Children’s Northern California participates in a national database that includes outcomes data from inpatient rehabilitation units across the nation. The most recent data shows patients experience higher functional gains during their inpatient rehabilitation stay at Shriners Children’s Northern California when compared to children in other programs throughout the nation. This data indicates that the inpatient rehabilitation program at Shriners Children’s Northern California is one of the top performing programs in the nation for patient outcomes. The program is recognized for specialized distinction by the Joint Commission for National Quality Approval.

Working Hard, Having Fun and Building a New Life

Dr. Evans underscores the commitment that inpatient rehabilitation demands of patients and their families.

“Our patients are working with a physical, occupational or speech therapist on their care team for at least three hours a day, six days a week, in addition to extra time with other team members. It’s hard work. They may be learning how to speak again, how to walk again, how to brush their teeth or wash their face again. They are working on skills to achieve as much independence as possible,” Dr. Evans said.

“Brain injury patients are particularly attuned to their loved ones,” Dr. Evans said.

It’s the patient’s loved ones who will provide care and support when the patient heads home, so the Shriners Children’s Northern California IRU team works with their families to incorporate activities into the rehabilitation program. For some families, being able to gather around the table to share a meal is a priority. Some families love music, and others love to dance. Whatever is most important to the patient and family becomes a priority and is incorporated into rehabilitation therapy activities and goals.

“Our program is different because everyone at our hospital is focused on kids. We are a pediatric hospital, so we bring that compassion and care into the IRU and into our work with all our patients, including our brain injury patients,” Dr. Evans said. “We create an environment that taps into fun and joy for kids. It’s a lot of work, but it’s also fun."

“We want our patients to heal and to feel like themselves again,” Dr. Davidson explained. “We are committed to their recovery and their long-term care, and we are committed to seeing them build a new life.”

Shriners Children’s Longstanding Commitment to Inpatient Rehabilitation

The Shriners Children’s healthcare system has three longstanding inpatient rehabilitation programs in Sacramento, Chicago and Philadelphia. These child-centered intensive rehabilitation programs provide multi-disciplinary therapeutic care.

At Shriners Children’s Northern California, that care has expanded to include other diagnoses, including traumatic brain injury, because the need is so great. The hospital has one of the few inpatient rehabilitation programs west of the Mississippi to specialize in pediatric traumatic brain injury rehabilitation.