Located on the fifth floor of the main hospital, the Acute Care Rehabilitation Unit features 10 private rooms, including 5 rooms that can accommodate a ventilator. The program provides medical and rehabilitation nursing services 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with additional therapy services offered Monday through Saturday. Our multi-disciplinary program is designed to meet the needs of children, adolescents, and young adults with physical and/or neurological disabilities. The unit provides rehabilitation care for children and adults up to 21 years of age. 

 

Why Choose Arkansas Children's

Our mission is to support the patient and family while maximizing functional independence comprehensively. These goals are achieved through a coordinated program of rehabilitation care, medical care, research, and education. Our facility offers on-site therapy, radiology, laboratory, and pharmacy services specific for individual patient needs.

Our program strives to maximize physical, psychological, cognitive, social, and educational outcomes for all patients served.

Conditions We Treat 

  • Acquired brain injuries
  • Brain tumors
  • Burns
  • Cerebral palsy
  • Deconditioning
  • Encephalitis
  • Gullian Barre Syndrome
  • Intracranial Hemorrhage
  • Meningitis
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Near drowning
  • Non traumatic brain injury
  • Polytrauma
  • Spasticity management
  • Spina Bifida
  • Spinal cord injury (All levels, complete and incomplete)
  • Stroke
  • Transverse myelitis
  • Traumatic brain injuries

 

Quality Patient Care

  • We are accredited by the Joint Commission (TJC).
  • Our nursing team has been recognized with Magnet Accreditations.
  • CARF Accredited
  • Our most important goal is to return patients to their community, home, and schools. Our school reintegration program involves frequent communication with your child's school and recognizes the family and school as key players.
  • We are located inside Arkansas Children's Hospital, and have immediate access to the Medical Emergency Team (MET). MET is not just for staff; parents are also encouraged to notify MET if they have a concern about their child.
  • Dedicated Dining Room specific for our patients to prepare them and their families to transition home and engage in ADL outside of their room.

 

Rise & Walk Technology

Rise & Walk Rehabilitation Device.The Rise & Walk technology supports gait training by synchronizing upper and lower extremity movements, providing a versatile neurorehabilitation station that combines robotic-assisted gait training, seated activities, and a balance support zone. The technology is developed in alignment with the latest research to promote neuroplasticity, a key factor in functional recovery.

By introducing child-savvy graphics that make the machine playful and inviting, the pediatric Rise & Walk reduces anxiety and builds young patients' enthusiasm for reaching their challenging rehabilitation goals. The technology also features hand guides and footplates customized for children's broad range of sizes.

Read Johnny's story, the first patient to benefit from the new technology offered at Arkansas Children's Hospital.

Family Centered Care

Patients and families are at the center of everything we do at Arkansas Children's. We believe that families and caregivers are the primary source of strength and support for the children, adolescents, and adults served by the hospital.

At Arkansas Children's, you will find staff fully committed to improving the life of the patients we serve. The Acute Care Rehabilitation Unit is committed to the following components of care.

We will:

  • Include the family in all planning
  • Share information about your child’s care and update you in routine team meetings
  • Support you emotionally

Learn about our Family Advisory Board.

Payer/Source Fees

Our program works with most insurance companies, state funded Medicaid and Medicare programs, and self-pay arrangements.

Referral Sources

We accept patients from across Arkansas and surrounding states including Texas, Tennesse, and Oklahoma. We accept patients from across the United States. Physician referrals are required to start the review process. The review process includes a team evaluation on the individual needs of your child and the family. In many cases, Arkansas Children's is able to provide a team evaluation via telehealth. Please contact the Care Coordinator Registered Nurse at 501-364-1707 for additional information.

Useful Downloads

Before being accepted into the Acute Care Rehabilitation Program, a complete examination and evaluation, led by a physician, will develop a plan and review.

Admission Criteria

  • Your child must require the services of at least two of the three core rehabilitation services (physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy).
  • Your child should be able to tolerate at least three hours of therapy per day.
  • Your child must be medically able to participate in therapy.
  • Your child must have a reasonable expectation for improvement of motor, speech and or/ cognitive skills, and they must have the potential to achieve those goals in a reasonable time.

Transition Criteria

Patients are continuously monitored to determine ongoing needs and appropriateness of participation in our program. There may be times after evaluation the patient requires a transfer of care to the most appropriate level of care. Transition of care criteria include, but are not limited to:

  • Your child is unable to meet the required two core rehabilitation services (physical therapy, occupational therapy, and speech therapy).
  • Your child is not tolerating the required three hours of therapy per day.
  • Your child is becoming medically unable to participate in therapy.
  • Your child is not showing reasonable improvement of motor, speech and/or cognitive skills in a reasonable time as specified by the physician care team.

Discharge Criteria

Established guidelines for discharge home or transfer to the most appropriate level of care are as follows but not limited to:

  • Your child has achieved the inpatient level goals of rehabilitation, caregivers have completed all necessary education and training, and a safe discharge plan is established.
  • The physician care team determines the patient does not have the potential to further benefit from the program.
  • When your child no longer requires interdisciplinary services to achieve rehabilitation goals or can achieve those goals in a less acute setting.
  • When your child displays behaviors that preclude benefit from a continued acute care rehabilitation program, or the patient/family are no longer willing to be active participants in the program.
  • When the patient/family exercises legal rights and refuses continued services.

Frequency of Rehabilitation Services

  • Nursing and pediatric hospitalists are available 24 hours a day/7 days per week for medical needs and emergencies.
  • Physician Services: Your child will be evaluated at least daily by a physician. Your child may also be assessed by other physicians during their stay. The individualized frequency will be based upon the physician's assessment.
  • Therapy Services (Physical Therapy, Occupational Therapy, and Speech Therapy): The frequency will be individualized and determined after an initial assessment. The frequency may change based on ongoing assessments. In general, your child will receive daily therapies, Monday through Saturday, for a minimum of three hours each day.
    • Therapy Services are available:
      • Monday-Friday: 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.
      • Saturday: 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
      • Sunday is designed to be a day of rest for patients admitted to rehabilitation.
  • Additional Services (Social Work, Case Management, Child Life, Pet Therapy, Pool Therapy): This frequency will depend upon the specific needs of your child and your family.

Your child’s stay

Your child will stay on the 5th floor of Arkansas Children's Hospital. The gyms are also located on this floor.

While you are admitted the following services are available to support your individual, family, and cultural needs:

  • Interpreter Services
    • We offer free interpreter services for all patients and their families. Interpreter services are available 24 hours a day. If you need an interpreter during your visit, please notify your care team.
  • Dietary
    • Our nutritional team works with our dietitians and Speech Therapists to provide an individual diet appropriate for your child's needs. Rehabilitation patients eat in the Dining Room for breakfast, lunch, and dinner (optional).
  • Spiritual Care
    • Chaplains provide spiritual care for our patients, families, and staff. Our chapel is located on the 2nd floor and is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. You can contact our spiritual care office by dialing 501-364-1824.
  • Social Work
    • As a member of the rehabilitation team, you will have an assigned social worker. Your social worker will help with counseling, crisis intervention, discharge planning and community resources.
  • School Program
    • Our hospital school program is available to all school-age children.
  • Therapy
    • Therapies are an essential part of maximizing your child's functionality. Your child's therapy will consist of morning and afternoon sessions. Your child will have at least three hours of therapy each day, Monday through Saturday.
      Families typically do not accompany their child to therapy. This helps to decrease distractions and provides a time of respite for family members.
  • Team Conferences
    • The rehabilitation team meets regularly to discuss progress and goals. Patients and families are invited to each of these team conferences, in addition to the informal updates you receive. Families are expected to actively participate in team conferences. The team conference is a wonderful opportunity for you to ask questions, share your thoughts and concerns, and give feedback. During each conference, goals are discussed as well as discharge plans. If you are unable to attend, please let the team know and we can arrange a conference call so that you are updated. 

Call to learn more about our Acute Care Rehabilitation Program

Please contact our Care Coordinator Registered Nurse for additional information.