Acute Care Rehabilitation Program

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 plan for discharge is established.
• The physician care team determines the patient does not have 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 exercise 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): This frequency will depend upon 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 therapy gym is 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. You 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.