A young girl works on walking and keeping her balance with the help of her walker and her physical therapist.

Scope of Services

Comprehensive Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation

The Pediatric Inpatient Rehabilitation (IRU) program at St. Luke's Children's Hospital typically serves patients from 1-13 years of age; however, each case is reviewed individually. Patients 14 and older are generally admitted to St. Luke’s Rehabilitation Hospital, which is adjacent to St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital.  

We accept patients from across Idaho and surrounding regions. Physician referrals are required to start the review process. 

Service Details

mom and son touch foreheads

Diagnoses considered appropriate for admission include but are not limited to:

  • Acquired brain injury
    • Traumatic brain injury
    • Non-traumatic brain injury (encephalitis/meningitis, anoxic brain injury, brain tumors and post-surgical seizure management)
    • Stroke/arteriovenous malformation (AVM)
  • Spinal cord injury (note: cervical levels may be considered for transfer to external specialty spine program)
    • Non-traumatic spinal cord injuries (transverse myelitis, acute flaccid myelitis and spinal cord tumors) 
    • Traumatic spinal cord injuries
  • Neurological disorders (Guillain-Barré syndrome and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (ADEM)
  • Orthopedic conditions (post-surgery, trauma and amputation)
  • Cardiac or pulmonary conditions
  • Debility related to significant medical illnessards

Additional Areas of Support

  • Disabled teenager working on motor skills

    Improving Ability in Daily Activities

    Our team supports patients in improving their ability to care for themselves, including tasks such as grooming, toileting, bathing, dressing, walking, talking, feeding and/or other daily tasks.

  • Young girl with disabilities communicates with a caregiver

    Navigating Physical Impairments

    We support patients that may have body function or structure challenges such as neurological motor impairments (hemiparesis, paraplegia, spasticity, ataxia, etc.), cognitive difficulties, orthopedic limb restrictions, neurogenic bowel/bladder, loss of vision and/or trouble swallowing.

  • A young girl is sitting in front of her wheelchair. She is in an elementary school classroom with her helper.

    Enhancing Participation

    We also help patients improve their ability to participate in their community, school, and home environments (i.e., managing community accessibility, school reintegration, church and/or family life, obtaining driver's license, etc.).

  • young boy watches aquarium bubbles

    Managing Psychological Status

    Patients may require support for issues related to adjustment, coping and/or family dynamics secondary to diagnosis.

Continued Stay, Discharge and Insurance Details

Patients are continually monitored to determine the ongoing needs and appropriateness of participation in our comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation program. Patients will be evaluated to determine progress toward treatment goals and the necessity of continued treatment.

Input from the patient/family and the members of the interdisciplinary team are used to continually update the treatment plan and discharge planning.

A patient is considered eligible for continued stay when:

  • There is evidence that the patient has reasonable potential to achieve their functional goals.
  • The members of the team can document significant and continued progress towards functional goals.
  • The patient and family can continue to actively participate in their care.
  • The patient requires ongoing medical and nursing needs that necessitate hospitalization while benefiting from continued therapy.