About the Children's Center

Most Common Pediatric Sub-Acute Medical Conditions

• Coma
• Congenital Disease
• Developmental Disabilities
• Near Drowning
• Neuromuscular Degenerative Disease
• Prematurity
• Respiratory Disease
• Spinal Cord and Head Injuries
• Tracheotomy Care
• Ventilator Dependence
• G Tube Dependent
• Birth Abnormalities

Our Facility

Our patient environment is designed for children, with brightly decorated rooms, well-equipped group spaces and a pleasant home-like setting. Colorful artwork, a private outdoor play courtyard and other environmental stimulation encourage our patients to participate in activities to the extent they are able.

Our Treatment Team

Our treatment team is an interdisciplinary group of health care professionals specially trained to meet the unique care needs of our young patients. Each carries the appropriate licenses or credentials for their respective positions.

The Children's Center treatment team is under the direction of our Medical Director who is board certified in the specialties of pediatrics and critical care. Other team members include nurses, social workers, respiratory therapists, physical and occupational therapists, speech and language pathologists, special education teachers, child life specialists, pharmacists and dietitians.

These professionals work together to create individualized health care plans to address each child's specific problems and requirements. They meet regularly to review the treatment plan and to evaluate each child's progress, making adjustments as needed.

Family Support Network

Family involvement is an integral part of each patient's care and treatment-planning process, and a key to maximizing their child's potential for recovery.

Family members are educated about the injury or disease process, and they participate in conferences with the treatment team to keep abreast of their child's functional status and progress. The team also helps support family members by providing a sympathetic, supportive environment for them to share their feelings and experiences.

Assessment and Admission

To determine a child's need for the sub-acute level of care provided through our Children's Center for Specialized Care, a representative from our treatment team will visit the child in the hospital to review diagnostic test results, the patient's history and physical status. There is no charge for this evaluation.

If the child is admitted, a supplemental assessment by the entire treatment team will be used as the basis for developing the patient's individualized goals and treatment plan.

Referral Procedures and Insurance

Referrals to our program may be made by calling our Social Worker at 562.907.1621. Our no-cost evaluation should be initiated within 24 hours of the referral.

Whittier Hospital Medical Center's Children's Center for Specialized Care is certified by Medi-Cal, and care is covered by most other public and private insurance plans.

Named one of the best in the State for Skilled Nursing Care

We are proud of having been named of the best in the State for skilled pediatric nursing care by the US News & World Report more than 5 years in a row and one of the top 14 skilled nursing facilities in all of California. The comprehensive report showed that Whittier Hospital Medical Center's nursing staff provides four times more personal attention per resident than the national average.

To learn more about our CMS 5-star rating, please visit https://www.whittierhospital.com/Clinical-Services-Programs/Pediatric-Sub-Acute-Center/News.aspx

Call for Assessment and Admitting

Please call (562) 907-1621 or (562) 907-1791 or click here for more information on the Whittier Hospital Medical Center Children's Center.

A message from the Director of the Pediatric Sub-Acute Unit

Dear Parents,

A new respiratory disease – coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) – is spreading globally and there have been instances of COVID-19 community spread in the United States. The general strategies CDC recommends to prevent the spread of COVID-19 in Long Term Care Facilities are the same strategies we use every day to detect and prevent the spread of other respiratory viruses like influenza.

Due to the current CDC guidelines, Whittier Hospital Pediatric Subacute will need to implement a change in our visitation policy as a preventative measure. This will be a temporary change that will be lifted on the advice of government and regulatory agencies. Hospital Closed for Visitation at this time including Pediatric Sub-Acute

We are exploring alternative methods for you to be able to communicate with your child. Please be patient with us as we try to coordinate with HIPPA and hospital policies to safeguard you and your child’s privacy. You can contact the Unit directly for updates at 562-907-1770 at any time.

We know that this is a difficult time and together we can help to ensure the protection and safety of our residents. Please feel free to contact me at 562-907-1791 for any questions or concerns.

Sincerely,

Reinali Zabalerio,

Director of Pediatric Subacute

UPDATE: PEDIATRIC SUB-ACUTE COVID-19 CASES

Whittier Hospital's Pediatric Sub Acute Unit provides the latest information on COVID-19 statistics in our Unit. Please see below for current updates. For additional information, please feel free to contact the Unit Director by calling 562-907-1791 or email us at WHMC4U@ahmchealth.com

California Highway Patrol visits the Children's Center for Specialized Care

CBS and California Highway Patrol (CHP) visit Whittier Hospital’s Pediatric Sub Acute Unit

Making a difference, one child at a time