Rehab Care Unit
Paving the road to recovery. The Rehab Care Unit (RCU) is a family-centered area where children receive treatment for head injuries and neurological illnesses.
The RCU uses an interdisciplinary approach, providing medical and nursing care and individualized therapies, including education, support and discharge planning for our patients.
The overall goal of the RCU is to help children reach their highest level of functionality after an injury or illness and return them to their homes as soon as possible.
The RCU at Cook Children's features
- 16 private rooms
- Parent bed space in each room
- State of the art gym for therapies
- Overhead lift track for activities of daily living (ADL) and therapies
- FWISD classroom for school
- Family-centered play area
- Wireless internet so you can stay connected with your family, school or work
Neurological rehabilitation
The RCU helps children recover from neurological problems caused by:
- Acquired brain injury
- Brain tumor
- Encephalitis
- Spinal cord injury
- Neuromuscular disease
- Other neurological diagnoses
Therapy goals are developed based on the individual needs of each child to encourage ongoing recovery. As a transitional rehabilitation unit, children are admitted from the acute inpatient phase and develop an individualized treatment plan (ITP) with goals focused on home, school and community re-entry. An on-site FWISD school teacher assists with daily school activities and school re-entry. Parents and caregivers actively participate in setting goals for the child's return home and learn how to care for their children each step of the way.
The team members
The interdisciplinary team led by pediatric neurologist Warren Marks, M.D., Medical Director, Movement Disorder and Neuro-Rehabilitation program includes:
- Board-certified physicians
- Certified pediatric nurse practitioners
- Pediatric nurses and respiratory therapists
- Occupational therapists
- Speech/language pathologists
- Child Life specialists
- RN case managers
- Social workers
- Pediatric neuropsychologists
- Nutritionists
- Teachers from Fort Worth Independent School District (FWISD)
Additional resources:
- Anatomy of the Brain - American Association of Neurological Surgeons
- Acute Brain Injury - English – A Guide for Families and Friends - The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
- Acute Brain Injury - Spanish – A Guide for Families and Friends - The University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
- Brain Basics - National Institute of Neurological Disorders & Stroke
- Brain Map - Center for NeuroSkills TBI Resource Guide
For information about Cook Children's Rehab Care Unit, call 682-885-4388.
