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Complex Post-Surgical Rehabilitation

For children recovering from multiple traumatic injuries, extensive orthopedic surgery or complex surgery, Blythedale offers a highly specialized, integrated approach to care.

Why Blythedale...

Blythedale is a center of excellence in the management of surgical devices, drains, wound care, infection prevention, nutrition optimization and pain management.

  • Inpatient
  • Day Hospital
  • Outpatient

Patients are admitted for acute medical and rehabilitative inpatient care following major trauma (such as head and spinal injuries, extensive soft tissue trauma/burns, vascular injuries, major muscle/ligament injuries, amputations or fractures), extensive scoliosis surgery, selective dorsal rhizotomy, complicated abdominal surgeries or other surgical conditions needing intensive post-acute recovery. Blythedale utilizes advanced technologies, including pressure mapping, ECUs (environmental control units), and partial body weight support systems (used to improve gait) to care for these children.

Patients are provided an individualized rehabilitation program by an interdisciplinary team including experts in pediatrics, physiatry, orthopedics, neurosurgery, neurology, psychology, rehabilitation and wound care nurse, Child Life specialists and other specialties, as well as the largest and most experienced pediatric therapy department in New York State.  The goal is to help our patients recover and maximize their functional abilities and minimize disability through comprehensive medical care and rehabilitation. 

Board Certified Pediatric Physiatrists on Staff
A team of five Board Certified Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation specialists serve at the core of our comprehensive rehabilitation program to promote healing.
twins

Jadon and Anias Take the Next Step... Home

The milestones have been plentiful for two-year-old previously conjoined twins, Jadon and Anias McDonald, and on September 2, they added a new one to their growing list... going home. Admitted to Blythedale’s Infant and Toddler Unit for nearly nine months, the boys were all smiles as parents...

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Complex Post-Surgical Rehabilitation Team

Julie Knitter
Director of Occupational Therapy and Assistive Technology
Linda Schendel, R.N., M.S.N., W.C.C., Charge Nurse, Wound Care Specialist
Linda Schendel, R.N., M.S.N., W.C.C.
Charge Nurse, Wound Care Specialist
Kathy Silverman, Unit Chief, Pediatric, Adolescent and TBI Units/Adolescent Pediatrician
Kathy Silverman, D.O.
Unit Chief, Pediatric, Adolescent and TBI Units/Adolescent Pediatrician
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Pediatrics

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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...

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Nursing

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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...

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Social Work and Care Coordination Services

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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...

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Physical Therapy

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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...

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Occupational Therapy

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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’...

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Speech Pathology & Audiology

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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...

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Respiratory Care Services

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Respiratory Care Services

Respiratory therapists serve as consultants to nurses, physicians, and other members of the health care team. Our staff consists of experienced respiratory therapists and respiratory therapy residents who provide excellent quality care, including inpatient services 24 hours a day, seven days a week...

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Pharmacy

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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...

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Health Home Care Management

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Health Home Care Management

What is a Children’s Health Home? A Children’s Health Home isn’t a place! It’s a type of care that allows for health care and service providers in the community to work together to make sure that your child receives the care and support services to stay healthy. What is a...

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Therapeutic and Developmental Support Services

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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...

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Clinical Nutrition

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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...

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The Robert Stone Day Hospital

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The Robert Stone Day Hospital

Following an evaluation by an interdisciplinary team at Blythedale (in coordination with the child’s family and community physician), an individualized treatment plan is developed to address the child’s unique medical, therapeutic and developmental needs. In addition, every child is...

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Parent and Caregiver Training

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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...

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The Mt. Pleasant Blythedale Union Free School District

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The Mt. Pleasant Blythedale Union Free School District

Mt. Pleasant Blythedale UFSD is a New York State public, special act school district, chartered in 1971 to serve the highly specialized needs of the patients of Blythedale Children’s Hospital. Children in grades K through 12, who require intensive rehabilitation and medical care, attend...

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Elder and his family hoped to see the New York Yankees when they traveled from Dominican Republic to visit family in New York, but plans were derailed when a brain tumor caused devastating medical complications. But, with the help of intensive rehabilitation and nationally certified language translation services at Blythedale Children's Hospital--this patient and family are bouncing back by building bonds, while also breaking down barriers.

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The sky's the limit for seven-year-old Mimi after losing her arm to a near deadly flesh-eating disease. Blythedale Children's Hospital helped heal both her mind and body with the confidence and strength to achieve her goals. 

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Cerebral palsy didn't stop David from doing what he loves. With the help of #TeamBlythedale, his family and music by BTS, this "firecracker" was able to overcome his medical challenges and stand up so he could get down. Learn how David found his groove.

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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.