Inpatient Rehabilitation Program

Akron Children's Inpatient Rehabilitation Program treats children and young adults who have experienced traumatic and life-changing illness or injury. Our mission is to help our patients and families focus on abilities, not disabilities, by encouraging kids to be kids. Our doctors, nurses, therapists and other clinicians use their expertise to help patients build skills to function independently as they recover. We use intensive physical, occupational and speech therapy to help facilitate recovery. After discharge from the hospital, patients transition to our intensive Day Rehabilitation Program or outpatient therapies as needed.

Akron Children's Inpatient Rehabilitation Program has received the highest level of accreditation that can be awarded to an organization by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. We are the only pediatric rehabilitation service in the region that treats every stage of the recovery process including:

• Acute inpatient therapy to provide short-term rehabilitative care after a sudden illness or injury
• Inpatient rehabilitation to provide intensive, long-term therapies for more serious or complex illnesses or injuries
• Day rehabilitation, which allows patients to receive intensive therapies during the day, then return home with their families in the evening and on weekends
• Outpatient therapy for ongoing therapy needs

Because we provide the full spectrum of care, your child can receive all their rehabilitation services at Akron Children’s, including inpatient care in a dedicated unit. This continuity of care improves patient outcomes, including shorter lengths of hospital stay and greater gains in functional abilities than the national average.

Who we treat.

Our patients have suffered loss of functional independence due to neurological or musculoskeletal illnesses or injuries, including:

• Traumatic brain injury/non-traumatic brain injury
• Cerebral palsy
• Orthopedic conditions
• Neurologic conditions
• Major multiple trauma

Only one focus: kids.

Our team is specially trained to meet the needs of infants, children and teens and includes:

• Physical medicine and rehabilitation doctors (pediatric physiatrists) who coordinate medical care and provide leadership to the multidisciplinary team
• Nurses and medical assistants who will provide care during your child's hospitalization
• Physical, occupational and speech therapists who will use the latest rehabilitative equipment and devices to aid in your child’s recovery 
• Child life specialists who will help your child cope with hospitalization and explain medical procedures in terms they understand
• Psychologists who will address any emotional issues or behavioral concerns associated with your child’s serious illness and injury
• Neuropsychologists who will guide the treatment of cognitive issues associated with brain injuries such as difficulties with memory, learning, or the ability to think, reason and problem solve
• Respiratory therapists who will provide respiratory support for your child if they have a tracheostomy with or without home ventilation, CPAP or BIPAP
• An education intervention specialist who will help your child complete school assignments while in the hospital and in returning to school
• Case managers who will coordinate your child’s care from pre-admission to discharge to an outpatient program
• Social workers who will address a wide range of needs from applying for financial assistance to accessing any community-based services your child may need
• Dietitians who will address your child's unique nutritional needs to promote recovery
• Audiologists who will assess any issues related to your child's hearing
• Expressive therapists who will use the creative arts, such as music, dance, visual arts and poetry, to promote your child's healing
• Chaplains from many faith traditions who are available to help you and your child form connections to whatever sustains you spiritually and find meaning in the hospital experience
• Massage therapists who can help stimulate the body's natural healing ability, improve blood flow to injured areas, reduce muscular fatigue and help manage your child's pain
• Volunteer dogs and their owners from our Doggie Brigade who may bring comfort to your child during your hospital stay

As a team, we value:

• Individualized, quality, family-centered care for all children
• Clear communication and collaboration
• A safe environment that fosters independence, restores confidence, and promotes strength and determination
• Compassion and trust