St. Luke’s opens new pediatric rehab unit

Children who have dealt with injuries, illnesses or surgeries and need rehabilitative care have a new avenue to see those healing, necessary therapies.

On Sept. 17, St. Luke’s opened its new pediatric inpatient rehabilitation unit, located within St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital in Boise. The unit will provide access to physical, occupational and speech therapies.

“We are pleased to expand access t pediatric rehabilitative care right here in Idaho for young patients who, along with their families, are navigating significant health challenges,” said Dr. Henry Thompson, the medical director for St. Luke’s children’s system. “Patients who need specialized care in a hospital setting can now receive it closer to home through our experienced and dedicated physicians, therapists and teams.”

Thompson added that reducing travel and being closer to support systems for kids receiving care can have better outcomes on recovery.

According to a release from St. Luke’s the unit will employ pediatric therapists, physicians, social workers, nurses, school teachers and others, providing a line of treatment specifically designed for each child, ages 1 to 14 years old. Inpatient treatment can last from two to eight weeks.

“The new pediatric rehab unit builds on St. Luke’s Children’s pediatric trauma verification by the American College of Surgeons, achieved in 2022,” the hospital stated in a release. “The Level 2 verification recognizes the St. Luke’s pediatric trauma center’s dedication and delivery of excellence in caring for injured pediatric patients in Idaho.”

Philanthropic donations of $5 million made the St. Luke’s pediatric trauma verification possible, the hospital reported. Further donations will all the hospital to purchase “unique patient equipment needs” for the new unit.