Pediatric Brain Injury Program

Last reviewed by Amanda Kleckner, PT, DPT, administrative director of pediatrics, on 05/16/2022.

The team at the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Emily Howatt Pliskatt Pediatric Unit provides a custom, caring inpatient pediatric rehabilitation program for brain-injured children/adolescents.

Why Choose Good Shepherd’s Pediatric Brain Injury Program?

Good Shepherd’s team specializes in inpatient pediatric rehabilitation, providing a developmentally appropriate and functional, custom plan of care for your child.

Our ultimate goal is to return your child to home. We assist in resuming a meaningful and productive lifestyle in the areas of play/leisure skills, life skills, education and vocation.

The Pediatric Unit is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF), which is the gold standard for rehabilitation providers.

Pediatric Brain Injury Team – Inpatient Rehabilitation

Our pediatric brain injury team is led by Kimberly Kuchinski, MD, MPH,  a pediatric physiatrist and Medical Director, Pediatric Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network.

Dr. Kuchinski specializes in pediatric rehabilitation and provides inpatient and outpatient care. Her expertise includes spasticity management, brain injury, feeding difficulties, spinal cord injury, cerebral palsy and concussion.

In addition to Dr. Kuchinski, your Pediatric Unit team consists of:

• Rehabilitation nurses with training and expertise in pediatric rehabilitation, including brain injury, that focus on improving the quality of life for children and their families through specialized care and caregiver education. 

• Neuropsychologist with training and expertise in evaluating and treating thinking, behavioral and emotional changes caused by a brain injury; facilitates return to school.

• Physical therapists evaluate and treat changes in your child’s physical abilities.

• Occupational therapists help your child maintain or learn independent living skills (e.g., eating, dressing and safety awareness).

• Speech therapists evaluate and treat communication, swallowing, thinking and perception problems your child may have acquired.

• Recreation therapists help your child explore and participate in leisure activities and re-entry into the community.

• Respiratory therapists help your child maintain adequate respiratory function.

• Nursing assistants who are trained to support rehabilitation professionals and assist with your child’s health-care needs. 

• Care management provides information and helps with discharge planning and management of financial and other resources.

• Pediatric counselor addresses your child’s emotional needs and supports treatment goals using mental health-based therapies.

• Dieticians assess and monitor your child’s nutritional status.

• Pastoral care provides confidential support for you and your child as requested.

You and your child are important members of our health-care team. Active participation in treatment and rehabilitation is essential to recovery. The involvement of other family members, caregivers, friends and school personnel can also help your child successfully return home and to the community.

Inpatient Pediatric Brain Injury Program Location

Good Shepherd Pediatrics offers an inpatient pediatric brain injury program in Bethlehem, PA.

Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Emily Howatt Pliskatt Pediatric Unit

We are the only provider in the region offering inpatient rehabilitation with specialized programs to treat children with complex medical and congenital conditions.

The physicians, nurses and therapists at the Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Hospital Pediatric Unit provide compassionate rehabilitation care to children up to age 21.

Admissions:
For more information, contact the Pediatric Unit’s Admissions team at 484.788.5492.

Address:
2855 Schoenersville Road
Bethlehem, PA 18017

Phone: 610.807.4200
Fax: 610.807.4205

Contact Us To Get Started

For more information about the pediatric brain injury program, or to schedule a tour of our facility, please call 484.788.5492 or fill out the form below.