When a child is born with severe disabilities or complex medical problems, parents often face one of the most difficult decisions of their lives - choosing to care for their child at home or placing their child in a program equipped to handle their many needs. In some instances, there is no choice the child's physical and emotional needs can only be met through placement in a specialized facility.

Since 1978, Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center's Specialty Hospital has provided comprehensive medical treatment and skilled nursing care to infants, children, and young adults who are diagnosed with developmental disabilities and demanding medical conditions.

Often, these children are ineligible for both acute care and conventional disability programs.

Our 50-bed Specialty Hospital, which is a unique program licensed by the New York State Office of Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities, welcomes these individuals and serves their compelling needs in a nurturing environment of care. Here patients are provided with every opportunity to achieve their highest developmental potential so that they may return to their homes, foster care, or community residences.

A Warm and Caring Environment
Patients in the Specialty Hospital become part of the facilitys extended family of health professionals and caregivers. They receive developmental programming in the Hospitals classrooms and participate in daily recreational activities. Parties are regularly held for birthdays, holidays and special occasions.

Bedrooms are cheerfully decorated and mementos and photographs contribute to a personal, home-like atmosphere. At mealtimes, the children, when able, join together in the dining room, and throughout the day, each patient is showered with kind words, affection and a calming touch.

Patient Profiles
Patients requiring Specialty Hospital care may be diagnosed with one or more of the following disabilities:

• Severe or profound mental retardation
• Developmental delay
• Cerebral palsy
• Failure to thrive
• Epilepsy
• Extensive neurological impairments
• Chronic lung disease

In addition, they may require specialized care for severe contractures; extreme nutritional and/or vitamin deficiency; scoliosis; marked extremity deformities; chronic congestion; asthma; or debilitating respiratory conditions such as hyperactive airway disease and recurrent pneumonias. Many have undergone a tracheostomy or gastrostomy.

A Team Approach
Patients are evaluated by a multidisciplinary team upon admission. This evaluation includes a developmental assessment and physical examination, complete with X-rays, blood chemistries, and EEG and EKG analyses as necessary. All radiology and laboratory studies are available on site. The skilled health care tem includes:

• Primary Care and Specialty Physicians
• Registered and Licensed Practical Nurses
• Physical and Occupational Therapists
• Speech Pathologists
• Audiologists
• Respiratory Therapists
• Social Workers
• Teachers
• Recreation Therapists
• Psychologists
• Dietitians
• Direct Care Workers

Every patient is assigned to one of the Specialty Hospital's physicians who supervises their care and oversees their individualized medical and therapeutic treatment plan. The patient's progress is assessed regularly, and the care plan is revised as needed.

The Specialty Hospital has 24-hour on-site physician coverage, nursing care and respiratory care. A full complement of consultant specialists includes physiatry, neurology, opthamology, a developmentalist, and pediatric dentistry. All patients benefit from the Hospitals on-site, comprehensive range of services, including:

• Aggressive rehabilitation programs designed to expand range of motion, prevent contractures, and minimize the development of bony deformities
  
• Respiratory therapy in which chest physical therapy, suctioning, and tracheostomy care are provided as needed
  
• An infant stimulation program to develop tactile, motor, visual and auditory senses
  
• A carefully tailored nutrition program
• Dental care, consisting of prophylactic, periodontal, orthodontic and prosthetic procedures
  
• Services specifically geared to people with developmental disabilities
  
• A pharmacy, which makes medications and various treatments immediately and easily accessible
  
• Assisted ventilation via tracheostomy
  

Referral and Admission Process
Physicians, families, hospitals or community agencies may make referrals to the Specialty Hospital. The Specialty Hospital admits patients who require at least three hours of medical/nursing services daily, are capable of receiving therapeutic intervention, and who possess the potential for return to the community. At the time of application for admission, the following information will be requested:

• Medical assessment: medical history, diagnosis, prognosis, and current status
  
• Nursing summary: medication regimen, treatments, current respiratory care, and
  
• Physical, occupational and speech therapies
  
• Psychosocial assessment

A screening team from Terence Cardinal Cooke Health Care Center will evaluate the infant, child or young adult in the home or current placement facility to conduct an evaluation and discuss opportunities for admission.