Special Programs

Recreation Therapy

Certified recreation therapists provide group and individual activities to promote social, emotional, cognitive and physical development. Through recreation participation, it is the goal of the therapists to develop independence, self-confidence and maintain and/or develop new leisure interests.

Group activities include cooking, wheelchair sports, various crafts and games.

A variety of therapeutic trips are provided as needed to help a child adjust to the community, learn new skills and meet the individual goals of the child.

Rehabilitation

Physical therapists and occupational therapists provide a comprehensive rehabilitation program for each child. Therapy is provided to patients with a wide variety of conditions in the following treatment settings: inpatient, outpatient clinic and for equipment evaluations. The primary therapeutic goal is to increase each child's level of functioning and promote independence.

The family is involved with each child's therapy program. Family participation in the child's home exercise program helps to ensure carry over of new skills to the home and school environments. Shriners' therapists also work extensively with other patient care departments, medical staff, schools and community-based therapy programs.

A physical therapist will teach safe methods of transferring and transporting a patient following surgery as well as appropriate exercises, gait training, mobility and gross motor skills.

An occupational therapist may see a patient for training in fine motor skills, activities of daily living (dressing, hygiene, mobility, self-feeding, etc.) and upper extremity strengthening. Developmental testing and splinting are available as needed.

Spina Bifida

The spina bifida program offers comprehensive medical, surgical and rehabilitative services that assist children in reaching an optimal level of health and independence in their homes, schools and communities. The program encourages parents to participate in their child's care and in the decisions that affect their child. The hospital's interdisciplinary team consists of a developmental pediatrician, an orthopaedic surgeon, a urologist, an orthotist, a social work care coordinator, a RN care coordinator, a dietitian, a physical therapist and an occupational therapist. Contact the care coordinator at (888) 888-6314 for more information on the hospital's spina bifida program.

Support Groups

Care coordinators and recreation therapists lead support groups for parents. These meetings are a good opportunity to meet with staff and other parents to network and share creative ideas. Group leaders address questions in an effort to make everyone's stay as comfortable as possible.

Continued Education/Schooling

Special education teachers are assigned by the state of Hawaii Department of Education to provide schooling for inpatients in grades K-12.