About Us
The Kluge Children's Rehabilitation Center (KCRC) has many features that make it a unique children's health care facility. A part of the UVA Children's Hospital at the University of Virginia, this state-assisted tertiary care teaching hospital is located two miles from the main University Hospital complex. This provides ready access to medical specialists, but within a quiet setting on 12 acres of rolling hills.
The KCRC is fully accredited by the Joint Commission and by the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF) for its comprehensive, integrated inpatient rehabiliation program with a pediatric- and family-centered care focus.
Feautres of our Inpatient Unit include:
- 9 acute care beds and 10 rehabilitation beds
- About 150 admissions each year
- Average length of stay is 18-30 days
Family Centered Philosophy
Everyone at the KCRC is committed to Family Centered Care. In most cases, one adult family member is encouraged to stay at the child's bedside. Siblings, relatives and friends are welcome and play an important role in the care process. A lounge is available for families to gather, watch television, or play games. There are also several picnic areas on the grounds.
Services and activities provided include:
- Organized pre-admission practices (orientation, handbooks, tours)
- Continual communication during the admission
- Availability of convenient affordable lodging
- Community activities
- Parent activities
- Spiritual counseling
- A Parent Interest Committee (parents and staff)
- Guidance in obtaining resources and equipment
- Washer and dryer
- Post-discharge parent and child satisfaction surveys
Interdisciplinary Approach
At the KCRC, we utilize a team approach to care where parents, patients, and staff collaborate to achieve program goals. Informal lines of communication remain open at all times between families and staff members.
More formal meetings are also held with the family to communicate the child's status and to discuss concerns. Patient meetings are held bi-weekly and may be attended by parents and representatives of home community resources. Families may participate in therapies to maintain their involvement and awareness.
The KCRC team may include individuals from:
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Additionally, consulting or other specialty services are available in genetics, child psychiatry, pediatric neurology, pediatric anesthesiology, pediatric gastroenterology, endocrinology, otolaryngology, ophthalmology, urology, plastic surgery, physical medicine, neuropsychology and neurosurgery.
Who Comes to KCRC?
Patients from birth to 21 years old are admitted to KCRC for a wide variety of reasons. These include rehabilitation from a spinal cord or traumatic brain injury, comprehensive developmental evaluation, feeding difficulties, or for chronic care of conditions such as cerebral palsy, diabetes, or cystic fibrosis. At KCRC, every effort is made to create opportunities for patients to socialize with age-appropriate peers informally and during planned activities.
Rehabilitation Programs
KCRC has specialized rehabilitation programs:
- Acquired Brain Injury (ABI)
- Spinal Cord Injury (SCI)
- Encouragement Feeding Program
- Day Treatment Program
Discharge Planning
Discharge planning begins at the time of admission. A child's length of stay will vary from days to months depending on the severity of the injury, medical complications, the child's age, and the rate of progress. The goal is for patients to stay at the KCRC until their full rehabilitation potential is realized. To help accomplish this, KCRC Case Managers work with each patient's care team, and referral and payer sources, to help justify each patient's care plan. Contact is maintained with the family's local health care provider in order to cooordinate appropriate follow-up. Outpatient services are also available through the UVA/KCRC Outpatient Clinics to ensure continuity of care.
Inpatient Rehabilitation Outcomes
Patient and family outcomes are reviewed during the patient's stay and again after discharge to evaluate:
- Did the patient get better?
- Were patient and family resources used in the best manner?
- Was the experience a good one?
Most of the children who receive inpatient rehabilitation services at KCRC have brain and/or other injuries from trauma. Head injuries are the most common types of injuries we see; spinal cord injuries are next most common.
Rehabilitation patients stay with us for about 4-5 weeks on average. Stays may be shorter or longer based on each child's needs and program plan. Activities of daily living − both physical (movement, doing age-appropriate activities) and brain abilities (talking, learning, problem solving) − are measured against pre-set goals to help plan care and assess progress.
Here are some things we have learned through evaluation of our rehabilitation patients (2008):
- Increase in functioning:
On average, patients see about a 26% increase in self care, movement, and communication abilities from when they arrive to when they leave. Additional gains may be expected after discharge, too: on average, ABI patients had 26%, ABI w/SCI patients 26%, and stroke patients 7%.
- Level of awareness and responsiveness after head injury:
About 70% of patients leave at level 7 or 8 (much better, where patient is more aware and can carry out their daily routines) compared to only 7% with level 7-8 at admission.
- Transitioning and Satisfaction:
-- 93% of children treated at KCRC return to home and about 6% return to school in a classroom-based setting. Over 90% of families stated they returned to their "community" and other social activities. 85% said that their child had been involved in play/leisure activities in the last week.
-- 95% of families reported that they "agree" or "strongly agree" to being satisfied with the child's transition to home, and 80% (of those applicable) with the child's transition to school.
-- 89% of patients/families reported they "agree" or "strongly agree" to being satisfied with child's transition back to the community.
-- 85% of patients/families reported they "agree" or "strongly agree" to being satisfied with child's re-entry to play/leisure activities.
For more information or if you have questions about our inpatient programs, admission, or referral, please contact us by email at sas9g@virginia.edu or by phone at 434-924-KCRC (434-924-5272).