Omaha: 1.844.403.3131 | 402.401.3000
Lincoln: 1.800.676.5448 | 402.413.3000
For children and adolescents, school takes up a large portion of their day. Their major role in life involves learning new information and developing/refining fine motor and gross motor skills. In addition to the academics and skill development, children and adolescents are also developing vital social skills and forming their own self-image. The school environment and all that happens there has a big impact on who they eventually become as adults.
Upon admission to Madonna, the educational specialist contacts each patient's community school to gain records and begin to establish a relationship with them. Throughout the child/adolescent's inpatient stay, the educational specialist keeps the school updated on progress and as the child moves closer to discharge, begins processes related to re-integration. This might involve a trip to the school to assess and/or practice mobility skills, a joint meeting with therapists, teacher(s), and parents to discuss strategies, or development of an Individualized Educational Program (IEP) jointly with the school personnel. Contact with the school does not end when the patient is discharged. The child/adolescent may continue therapy and TLC at Madonna as part of their outpatient or Rehabilitation Day Program with gradual integration into the community school program. Regardless, the educational specialist follows up with school personnel after the patient re-integrates into their community school to ensure things are going well.