Inpatient Rehabilitation Program

Helping Children and Families Build a Bridge from Hospital to Home

The move from an intensive or acute care hospital to inpatient rehabilitation is an important part of the healing process. It’s also a joyful step toward your child or teen returning home to the people and activities they love.

The Frances H. McClelland Rehabilitation Program at Phoenix Children’s is Arizona’s only acute inpatient rehabilitation facility dedicated exclusively to pediatric and adolescent care. Maybe your child is recovering from a traumatic injury, illness or complex surgery. Maybe they have new-onset muscle weakness from prolonged illness or immobility (deconditioning). No matter what led your child to our program, we know your family has navigated some difficult days. As the region’s largest and most comprehensive program of its kind, we deliver compassionate care from a team of specialists who empower your child with the skills and confidence they need to continue their recovery journey.

Our Inpatient Rehabilitation Program is accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF). This independent, nonprofit organization evaluates and accredits health and human services that meet exceptionally high standards of care. Compared with national averages for similar inpatient rehabilitation programs, our patients spend fewer days in the inpatient setting and return home and to their communities more frequently.

Compassionate Care That Empowers the Whole Family

Your child will receive personalized, one-on-one therapy designed to support recovery and independence. You’ll work with a team of caregivers specially trained in your child’s condition. We actively engage you and your child in rehabilitation therapies. We’ll gradually step back as your child progresses, helping prepare your family for what life will feel like in the weeks ahead. As a partner in your child’s care, we will provide you with the tools you need to help your child reach their rehabilitation goals.

Our facility’s 12 private rooms feature roll-in showers, large accessible bathrooms and sleeper sofas so you can stay close. Our pediatric gyms have toys and equipment to help children build strength, confidence, and independence.

Upon discharge, we offer comprehensive outpatient follow-up through our physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists. Outpatient therapy services are available at various Phoenix Children’s locations.

We host an annual Inpatient Rehab Reunion, a fun-filled day of food and games. The reunion is a wonderful way to reconnect with families you met in our Inpatient Rehabilitation facility. You can also meet new families who may be able to share insight, empathy, and resources.

Inpatient Rehabilitation Admission Criteria

We treat children aged 2 to 18 whose doctor has determined they are medically stable and able to participate in at least three hours of therapy, five days a week. These therapies include physical, occupational, and speech therapy.

Children often require inpatient rehabilitation due to complications or treatment for health issues that include:

Balance disorders
Brain and spinal cord injuries
Chronic conditions, such as cerebral palsy and movement disorders
Chronic or acute pain
New-onset conditions, such as a traumatic injury, illness or stroke

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A Specialized Team That Partners With You and Your Child

Your child’s personalized care team includes Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) specialists, hospitalists who make daily rounds with our patients and other primary doctors.

Additional care team members may include:

Accredited teachers
Animal-assisted therapy team members
Art therapists
Case managers
Child Life specialists
Music therapists
Neuropsychologists
Nutritionists
Occupational therapists
Orthotists (brace and support specialists)
Pediatric rehabilitation nurses
Pharmacists
Physical therapists
Psychiatrists
Psychologists
Respiratory therapists
Social workers
Speech-language pathologists
Spiritual care providers

Personalized Programs and Services to Support Your Child’s Rehabilitation

Rehabilitation can be challenging, but our program is designed to make the experience engaging, meaningful and enjoyable while helping your child achieve their goals. As part of our Inpatient Rehabilitation Program, your child will have access to a wide variety of programs and services designed to help them return home and to school as safely and quickly as possible. Highlights include:

1 Darn Cool School provides year-round academic support by Arizona-certified, master’s-level teachers.
Animal-Assisted Therapy helps your child forget their discomfort, improve their mood and encourage movement and play.
Social Work Services answers your family’s questions, identifies coping skills and outlets for stress relief and helps you communicate with your child’s care team.
Spiritual Care Services provides a holistic approach to care by drawing on your child’s individual beliefs, whether they have a specific faith or no faith.
Therapeutic Arts, which includes music and art therapy, helps your child relax, express their feelings and focus on getting better.

A Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (PM&R) specialist will see your child five days a week, Monday through Friday. Additionally, a hospitalist will see your child seven days a week.

Your child will receive 15 hours of physical therapy, occupational therapy and/or speech therapy per week.

Therapy takes place in our rehab gym, rehab kitchen, technology gym, playground and during community outings. When necessary, therapy can take place in your child’s room.

A typical daily schedule includes three hours of physical, occupational and/or speech therapy, plus school and additional services such as music therapy or psychology. Your child will also have time to rest.

The Inpatient Rehabilitation Program is equipped to manage complex medical conditions and cross-specialty care, including:

Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) devices for sleep apnea
Diabetes management
Feeding intolerance
Isolation precautions
IV medications
Medication weaning
Nasogastric (NG) tubes and feeding assistance
Peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC)/central lines
Peritoneal dialysis
Post-transplant care
Radiation therapy
Tracheostomy and use of mechanical ventilator
Wound care and wound VAC (vacuum-assisted care)

Learn more about the comprehensive services we offer.

Your child can eat in their room, the hospital cafeteria or the rehab kitchen, where there is designated space for families to eat together.

Your child will be encouraged to wear regular clothes as soon as possible. We ask families to bring in their child’s own clothes and shoes. We also have a clothing closet for kids as needed.

Your child will receive year-round academic support from Arizona-certified, master’s-level teachers through the 1 Darn Cool School program. Teachers provide daily individual and group school sessions, ideally in our bright and welcoming classroom. Teachers regularly communicate with your child’s school. They can help with re-enrollment, 504 meetings and Individual Education Plan (IEP) needs, including recommended accommodations.

We welcome the support of family and friends during your child’s stay. Visitors should follow Phoenix Children’s visitor guidelines, with general visiting hours are 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. To help your child get the most out of therapy, we encourage limiting visitors during therapy sessions and promoting a quiet environment for rest and healing.