The COVID-19 pandemic has made school closures, social distancing and home isolation part of our daily lives but despite the challenges many are facing, Children’s Specialized Hospital (CSH), an RWJBarnabas Health facility, remains dedicated to providing children with special health care needs and their families with the care they need.
CSH is currently offering telehealth appointments via video and phone to both current and new patients for both medical and therapy services.
“We recognize that children with special health care needs are at an increased risk of behavioral regression and loss of physical skills due to the unavailability of active, in-person therapy during the COVID-19 crisis,” said Warren E. Moore, F.A.C.H.E., president and chief executive officer of CSH. “As such, the provision of telehealth and teletherapy services during the pandemic represents a medically necessary health service that is critical and essential to meeting the needs of the children and families we serve.”
CSH is currently offering telehealth appointments via video and phone to both current and new patients for medical services including developmental and behavioral pediatrics, physiatry, primary care, psychiatry and therapy services, nutrition and feeding therapy, occupational therapy, physical therapy, psychological therapy, and speech therapy.
The Rehabilitation Telehealth Clinic at CSH will also provide outpatient evaluations for the provision of adaptive equipment including activity chairs, bath equipment, simple walkers, special needs beds, special needs car seats and supportive strollers for patients ages 12-21. At this time, assessments for custom and power wheelchairs are also being held, but final recommendations will need to be completed in the clinic upon re-opening.
“For parents of children with special health care needs time off from school and social distancing can bring the potential for major developmental and behavioral setbacks,” said Malia Beckwith, M.D., section chief, Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics, CHS. “We are thrilled to be able to provide essential evaluations and support for children and families with a wide range of developmental conditions including ADHD, autism, and developmental delays via telehealth services. Developmental pediatricians can assist in the development of treatment plans and can provide recommendations regarding therapies or educational services to help a child to reach their full potential.”
For more information or to schedule a telehealth appointment with Children’s Specialized Hospital, call 888-244-5373 or visit www.rwjbh.org/landing-pages/csh-telehealth-services/.
