Skip to main content
UCSF Health

Specialized Inpatient Rehabilitation for Children with Complex Needs

Rehabilitation for Children with Complex Needs

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals offer one of the highest-volume dedicated pediatric acute rehabilitation units in Northern California, delivering comprehensive, hospital-based care for children recovering from illness, injury or surgery.

  • One of the region’s largest teams of pediatric-trained rehabilitation specialists
  • Evidence-based therapies in a family-centered setting
  • Private patient rooms, including ventilator-capable beds
  • 24-hour medical coverage within a full-service children’s hospital

Together, these elements help each child build strength, confidence and functional independence.

Why refer to UCSF?

UCSF Benioff Children’s Hospitals have a long history of caring for children whose conditions affect function and daily life. Our inpatient pediatric rehabilitation program supports some of the highest patient volumes in Northern California, offering:

  • Inpatient rehabilitation for children aged 9 months to 20 years old
  • A highly specialized pediatric rehabilitation care team
  • Newly renovated private patient rooms
  • Advanced rehabilitation technology, including the Tyromotion suite, EksoNR and ZeroG body-weight support systems
  • Individualized, goal-driven therapy plans
  • Therapy up to six days a week to support steady progress
  • Active family involvement, including regular updates and discharge planning
  • Coordinated transitions to outpatient therapy and community-based services

2025 inpatient rehabilitation outcomes

Outcomes are measured using standardized tools such as the WeeFIM (Functional Independence Measure for Children).

  • 5 hours (average) of therapeutic intervention per scheduled therapy day. This includes physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, recreational therapies (child life services, art therapy, music therapy), psychology and spiritual care.
  • 9 days (average) in rehabilitation program
  • No unplanned transfers to acute medical floor
  • 7% of patients discharged to home*

*13.3% of patients not discharged to home include patients who completed the rehabilitation program, then discharged to acute medical service to complete the remaining tracheostomy/ventilator teaching, or discharged to surgical service for a planned surgical procedure. 

Measurable progress for children and families

The team collaborates closely with families to:

  • Minimize the impact of a child’s disability and maximize participation in daily activities and play
  • Tailor rehabilitation goals and treatment to each child’s age, baseline level of function and medical, psychological and cultural needs
  • Help children in the program make measurable gains in mobility, communication and daily living skills
  • Support independence and readiness to return home, to school and to community life

When to refer

When a child experiences a sudden decline in function due to illness, injury or complex surgery, early referral to inpatient rehabilitation can help maximize recovery, restore independence and support a safe transition home. Our program provides intensive, interdisciplinary rehabilitation for patients with conditions such as:

  • Brain and spinal cord injuries and related neurotrauma
  • Stroke
  • Neuroimmunological conditions, including Guillain-Barré syndrome, acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM) and transverse myelitis
  • Brain and spinal cord tumors
  • Polytrauma
  • Complex post-surgical needs, including amputations, selective dorsal rhizotomy (SDR), lower limb reconstruction and single-event multilevel (SEML) surgery
  • Severe deconditioning following prolonged critical illness

Therapies and care team

Treatment is guided by each child’s ongoing assessments, anticipated outcomes and medical and rehabilitation goals. Care is delivered by a multidisciplinary pediatric rehabilitation team that may include:

  • Pediatric physiatrists overseeing each child’s rehabilitation care
  • Pediatric hospital medicine physicians co-managing complex medical conditions
  • Physical, occupational and speech-language therapists
  • Rehabilitation nurses
  • Psychology, social work and child life services
  • Music and art therapy
  • School program teachers supporting educational continuity
  • Pet therapy with a facility dog

Sample daily program schedule

Daily schedules are individualized based on each child’s needs and tolerance and may include:

  • Morning physical, occupational and speech-language therapy
  • Rest periods, school instruction and family time
  • Afternoon therapy and recreational or creative therapies
  • Ongoing care team coordination

How to refer a patient

Call the Pediatric Access Center at (877) UC-CHILD (877-822-4453) or download a referral form.