Phoenix Children’s Hospital announces the opening of the new Frances H. McClelland Pediatric Rehabilitation Center. The 15,451 square foot  Inpatient and Pediatric Outpatient Center opened in mid-January. All Pediatric Rehabilitation outpatient appointments will be held in the new Center located in the Phoenix Children’s Hospital East Building.

The Center is the only pediatric rehabilitation program in Arizona just for children. For more than 15 years, the Hospital’s expert team of pediatric trained physicians, nurses, and therapists has provided comprehensive, multidisciplinary care to allow children to achieve their optimal level of independence. This team, along with the family, develops a treatment plan and goals for each patient based on the child’s specific injury, illness, or disability.

The new Center is under the leadership of Dr. Ewa Brandys, who is board certified in Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine as well as Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation. Dr. Brandys says, “The best part of my job is to see children empowered with independence and able to move, communicate and take care of themselves even after the most devastating illness. Technology and a helping hand can do wonders to improve quality of life.”

The Phoenix Children’s rehabilitation program has always been dedicated to offering comprehensive, multidisciplinary care that helps children achieve their optimal level of independence. Now, there is dedicated space and high tech improvements to match the expertise of the staff.

The new center has many improved features including:

  • A large open patient gym with rubberized flooring
  • Private treatment rooms
  • Wii system
  • RT600 and RT300 integrated therapy systems
  • Sensory integration swing
  • Rock climbing wall
  • Kitchen space for intensive feeding program
  • Dedicated sensory therapy room
  • Certified hand specialist
  • Dedicated Child Life and social work team members
  • Community re-entry program

When inpatient care is needed, the Center also has a dedicated inpatient therapy gym and 12 private inpatient rooms, complete with large bathrooms, roll-in showers, and sleeper sofas for parents.

Formerly, outpatient rehab was located in the Ambulatory Building and inpatient rehab took place in the East Building Rehab Center or at the bedside. The program as a whole encompasses multiple programs and clinics including: inpatient rehabilitation, outpatient rehabilitation physical therapy, feeding therapy, speech and language therapy, sports medicine therapy, occupational therapy, and audiology

In each program, the care team identifies problems in infants, children, and adolescents and works with patients and their families to develop an individualized plan to maximize recovery and build/rebuild their abilities following medical treatment for: Traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, stroke, neuromuscular injury, NICU follow–up, broken bones, amputation, burns, developmental delays, feeding issues, respirator/cardiac arrest and brain tumors.