A full range of therapies is available to inpatients and outpatients, with the exception of the Music, Recreation & Child Life therapies, which are provided only to inpatients.
Child Life Services
Child Life Services provide children and their families with activities to assist them in adjusting to the hospital environment. Child life specialists help children understand what is happening through medical play activities and hands-on preoperative teaching in individual and group settings. Play materials and equipment are selected for children and adolescents based on their physical abilities as well as developmental needs. A positive, familiar and secure atmosphere for the hospitalized child is also provided by this service.
Music Therapy
Music Therapy provides emotional support and motivates patients to address targeted skill areas through the use of music and goal-oriented treatment. Music therapists provide structured individual and group sessions to aid children of all ages in reaching their maximum level of functioning in accordance with the family and treatment team goals.
Occupational Therapy
The Occupational Therapy Department provides evaluation and therapy to help children develop fine motor, self-care and oral motor feeding skills to accomplish activities of daily living, such as feeding, grooming or dressing. Occupational Therapy helps patients with developmental delays, learning disabilities or injury that has disrupted daily living. Patients are also trained and assisted to use adaptive equipment and splints.
To contact the Occupational Therapy Department, call (504) 896-9540.
Physical Therapy
The Physical Therapy Department provides evaluation and therapy for problems with gross motor and developmental skills (including sensory processing dysfunction), range of motion, muscle strength, gait, posture, muscle tone, reflexes and functional ability. Orthotic and prosthetic evaluation and training are also provided, and custom seating evaluations are done in conjunction with the Occupational Therapy Department. Modalities include hydrotherapy, electrical stimulation, ultrasound, and hot and cold packs and paraffin. Treatment may also consist of therapeutic exercise, gait training, lower extremity casting, threshold electrical stimulation, burn/wound care, and parent education.
To contact the Physical Therapy Department, call (504) 896-9557.
Recreation Therapy
Recreation Therapy provides the infant, child and adolescent with treatment designed to improve their functional skills as related to play and leisure. Recreation Therapists help children explore their personal leisure attitudes, adapt equipment/activities, or acquire new leisure skills that will assist in returning home and living as independently as possible. Recreation therapy services are provided if consulted by a physician for individual treatment, group therapy or community reintegration training at the community level.
Respiratory Therapy
The Respiratory Care Department offers diagnostic evaluation and treatment to patients with abnormalities and/or diseases of the cardiopulmonary system. The department is active in all areas of the hospital, in particular the emergency department, critical care areas, rehabilitation departments and PFT lab. Families and patients receive education and training in all aspects of specific disease management and management of the respiratory system including mechanical ventilation, tracheostomy care, suctioning techniques and aerosol delivery. Families are prepared to care for their child, or patients are taught procedures in preparation for their return to a home setting. As needed, respiratory therapy provides 24-hour patient care.
To contact the Respiratory Therapy Department, call (504) 896-9530.
Speech, Language and Audiology
The Speech, Language and Audiology Department provides a full range of diagnostic testing and therapy for children with speech, language and hearing disorders, both inpatient and outpatient. For patients with limited speaking ability, evaluation and training in the use of alternative communication methods are available, as well as training to use adaptive methods to access a computer. Swallow studies and therapy for patients with swallowing problems are provided. Audiology services include dispensing and fitting of hearing aids as needed.
To contact the Speech, Language and Audiology Department, call (504) 896-9551.