cardiac rehabilitation
  1. Home
  2. Treatment Areas
  3. Cardiac Rehabilitation

Cardiac Rehabilitation

Blythedale’s commitment to the highest level of medical and rehabilitative care, and ongoing integration of the newest cardiac support technologies for medically fragile children, is evident in our Cardiac Rehabilitation program.

Why Blythedale...

With attending pediatricians in the Hospital 24 hours a day, seven days a week, Blythedale has committed to a high quality and safe environment for medically fragile children to achieve their maximum potential.

  • Inpatient
  • Day Hospital

As more infants and children are undergoing complex cardiac surgical procedures to repair congenital conditions such as hypoplastic left heart syndrome, tetralogy of fallot, transposition of the great vessels, coarctation of the aorta, or cardiac injury due to myocarditis or traumatic injury, Blythedale is a leader in helping these fragile children optimize cardiac and functional recovery. 

Blythedale’s pediatricians, intensive care physicians, pediatric pulmonologists and pediatric respiratory therapists work in concert with a multidisciplinary team of rehabilitation nurses, physical, occupational and speech therapists to optimize each child’s function while monitoring cardiac status. 

Blythedale has invested in the most modern respiratory and cardiac support technologies including critical care ventilators, portable ventilators, BiPAP, CPAP, bubble CPAP, high flow nasal cannula and Left Ventricular Assist Devices (LVAD) in order to transition infants and children as quickly as possible from the Intensive Care Unit.  We maintain an ongoing relationship with the child’s referring medical team, and we have regular, comprehensive communication with cardiac teams from referring institutions including follow-up visits for cardiac evaluations such as echocardiograms and cardiac catheterizations.

 

Critical Care Trained Physicians
Our team of critical care trained physicians, combined with a state-of-the-art simulation lab means better outcomes for our patients.
Learn More About Our Physicians
Rebecca

A Fighter With Heart

Rebecca has always been a fighter, even before birth. The 12-year-old was diagnosed in utero with hypoplastic left heart syndrome, a congenital heart defect. Throughout her life, Rebecca has endured a variety of procedures related to her diagnosis, but none prevented her from enjoying her...

Read More See all Stories

Cardiac Rehabilitation Team

Dennis Davidson, Unit Chief, Infant & Toddler Unit/Neonatology
Dennis Davidson, M.D.
Unit Chief, Infant & Toddler Unit/Neonatology
Rita Erlbaum Kotorac,C.C.C.-S.L.P., Director of Speech Pathology and Audiology
Rita Erlbaum Kotorac, C.C.C.-S.L.P.
Director of Speech Pathology and Audiology
Julie Knitter
Director of Occupational Therapy and Assistive Technology
See all/other staff

Related Departments

Pediatrics

View Department

Pediatrics

Dedicated pediatricians for each of our units provide medical care while the child is in the hospital, coordinate the services of the other subspecialties, and supervise the discharge planning process. Family and pediatric nurse practitioners are assigned to the Hospital’s units, as well as...

Learn more

Nursing

View Department

Nursing

The focus of our care is on the possibilities of each child and family for healing, for learning and for progress. We individualize the plan of care to incorporate each family's goals as we recognize that every child and parent has unique needs and strengths. Our hands-on nursing approach...

Learn more

Social Work and Care Coordination Services

View Department

Social Work and Care Coordination Services

When your child is admitted to one of Blythedale’s programs, your family is assigned a social worker who will work closely with you throughout your stay at Blythedale. We will help you cope with the emotional stress of the next phase of your child’s recovery while adjusting to a new...

Learn more

Physical Therapy

View Department

Physical Therapy

Treatment plans often include exercise for patients who have been immobilized and lack flexibility, strength, or endurance. In addition, pediatric physical therapists promote development of normal components of movement and gross motor skills. Augmentative therapies provided by Blythedale’s...

Learn more

Occupational Therapy

View Department

Occupational Therapy

Our experienced pediatric OTs are proficient in working with children ranging from medically fragile infants to teenagers recovering from traumatic injuries. Our treatment sessions are child centered using a supportive and playful approach. Services include: Comprehensive evaluation of child’...

Learn more

Speech Pathology & Audiology

View Department

Speech Pathology & Audiology

Speech and Feeding Therapy Blythedale is skilled in diagnosing subtle developmental differences that are often difficult to identify. We provides services in the areas of language (understanding and expression of thoughts), speech (or clarity), voice, fluency (or stuttering), pragmatic (or social...

Learn more

Therapeutic and Developmental Support Services

View Department

Therapeutic and Developmental Support Services

Child Life and Creative Arts Program ​ Child Life Program The Child Life and Creative Arts program at Blythedale Children’s Hospital is dedicated to helping infants, children and their families cope through their medical journey. Our team of Certified Child Life Specialists are trained in the...

Learn more

Pharmacy

View Department

Pharmacy

The Department is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to patients and staff. Our pharmacists prepare compounds for both enteral and parenteral specialty medications, and provides individualized patient specific weight based unit doses. Our team reviews the appropriateness of all medication...

Learn more

Clinical Nutrition

View Department

Clinical Nutrition

Our dietitians create individualized meal plans for patients with allergies, dietary restrictions and specialized diets, while working alongside the child's speech therapist to ensure the best results. For the infant population at Blythedale Children's Hospital, the Clinical Nutrition team...

Learn more

Parent and Caregiver Training

View Department

Parent and Caregiver Training

Parents receive extensive training in managing their child’s condition and necessary medical equipment. If a child relies on medical technology, such as a ventilator, our staff engages parents in a thorough program of education - beginning on day one - so parents become confident and adept in...

Learn more
see all departments
journey of hope

A Journey of Hope

Did you know 45% of our patients are under the age of one? Follow the extraordinary journeys of a few of Blythedale's smallest and most fragile infants, as their families prepare to bring them home... for the very first time.

Malka

Malka on the Move

Eight-year-old Malka contracted an infection last spring that attacked her heart. She and her family visited a cardiologist in June, who diagnosed her with tachyarrhythmia because her heart rate was too fast. 

She needed a new heart. So, to keep her alive until one could be found, doctors performed lifesaving surgery on Malka and implanted an LVAD in her chest.

Watch Malka thrive at Blythedale Children's Hospital as she strengthens her heart, body and mind in preparation for transplant surgery with the help of nursing staff, doctors, therapists and other members of her multidisciplinary team.

wadeem

Wondrous Wadeem

International Heart Transplant Patient's Journey for Cardiac & Pulmonary Care

How far would you go for the best medical care for your child? For five-year-old Wadeem and her family, the answer was half a world away, at Blythedale. Learn how she received post-transplant cardiac and pulmonary rehabilitation, plus management of many other complex medical conditions. 

abby

Amazing Abby Overcomes Cardiac and Pulmonary Challenges

Learn how The Steven and Alexandra Cohen Pediatric Long Term Care Pavilion at Blythedale Children's Hospital helped give Abby the extra boost she needed to recover from heart surgery and pulmonary deficits, while providing critical caregiver training to mom and dad, all in an effort to bring her home for the first time.