Kids' Rehab Clinic

Who we are:

We are the pediatric rehabilitation clinic in the Maritimes. Our clinic team is a group of healthcare professionals who specialize in rehab care. We offer support to help children, youth, and family with functional goals they hope will improve their quality of life. For example, daily activities like getting dressed or outings with family; social activities like spending time with friends; or school activities like participating in gym class.

Who we help:

Children and youth up to the end of high school with acute or chronic conditions causing a physical and/or cognitive disability that results in a functional impairment. Our role in clinic is to work together with patients to identify goals, and to suggest resources and tools that could optimize quality of life based on those functional goals. Conditions such as Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy, Spina Bifida, Acquired Brain Injuries, or Limb Deficiencies are just a few examples of who we would see in our clinic.

Our Team:

• Child, Youth, Parents, and Caregivers
• Rehab Physician
• Nurse Practitioner
• Nurses
• Physiotherapist
• Occupational Therapist
• Social Worker
• Registered Dietitians
• Psychologist
• Access Navigator
• Various learners (residents and students)

What does each team member do?

Child, Youth, Parents, Caregivers

• Share their expertise on their interests and strengths
• Decide what is most important to work on
• Work with the team to set meaningful goals and what the next steps should be
• Let us know what is working well; or what would make things better

Rehab Physician: 

• Works with the family, the rehab team, and other physicians to understand how medical issues may affect your functional goals.
• Addresses specific medical concerns that may be related to the achieving your goals.
• Has a specialty in Rehabilitation Medicine to treat children and youth with rehabilitation needs. Treatment may include medications, therapies, or surgery.  
• Works with the family and the rehab team to create a plan of care to help meet your child/youth’s functional goals.

Nurse Practitioner (NP):

• A nurse with advanced education who practices independently or in collaboration with the rehab team and physician.
• Orders tests, performs procedures, diagnoses, and prescribes medications. 
• Works with the family and the rehab team to create a plan of care to help meet your child or youth’s functional goals.

Rehab Nurse:

• We work with the rehab clinic team to create a plan of care to help meet your child/youth functional goals. We provide education about medications, follow up care, and help you and your child prepare for transition to adult care.
• Supports the team in clinic and provides follow-up after your visit as needed.

Physiotherapist (PT): 

• Looks at your child’s functional mobility, as well as strength, balance, and movement.
• Discusses activities your child can do in their everyday life to help to improve any or all of the above

Occupational Therapist (OT):

• Looks at how your child can participate in daily activities (i.e., playing, dressing, feeding, school, etc.)
• May suggest strategies to support your child to be able to participate in their daily activities.

Social Worker (SW): 

• Assesses your family’s coping strengths and resources.
• Provides emotional and practical support to your family.
• Helps your family access community supports or services.
• Helps with adjustment and coping related to medical diagnoses and disabilities.

Dietitian (RD):

• Assess your child/youth’s growth.
• Provide suggestions for your child/youth’s intake of food, fluid, and supplementation to meet their specific needs.
• Assess your child’s bowel patterns and make suggestions on constipation management, as needed.
• Management of tube feedings

Psychologist: 

• Helps with adjustment and coping related to medical diagnoses and disabilities.
• Assists with behavior challenges that may get in the way of meeting your goals.
• Provides consultation to school staff about learning and behavioral needs, when needed.
• Helps coordinate follow-up with other mental health clinicians, neuropsychology, etc., if needed

Access Navigator:

• Completes intake calls with youth, parents, or caregivers.
• Assists with connecting families to resources and supports while waiting for their clinic visit.

Team Leader:   

• Coordinates and supports the day-to-day clinic operations.

What you need to know for your appointment:

• Please arrive early to allow time for parking and to register for your appointment. If you are late, your appointment may need to be rescheduled.
• Bring your health card, appointment letter, list of medications, shorts, footwear, equipment (example: walkers, splints, communication device) and items that will make you, your child or youth comfortable. Snacks, comfort, and distraction toys are welcome.

Missed Appointment Policy

It is our hope to respect each other’s time and optimize the use of healthcare resources. The IWK Kids’ Rehab Clinic now has a missed appointment policy. Our team reviews missed appointments on a case-by-case basis, which may result in discharge from our clinic in cases where this has occurred more than once.

New Referrals

We accept referrals from Physicians and Nurse Practitioners. Please fax your referral to

Kids’ Rehab Clinic Fax #: 902-470-8348. If you have questions about the process of sending new referrals, please call 902-470-5041.

Hip Surveillance Program

IWK Health in collaboration with Nova Scotia Health has launched a Hip Surveillance Program for children and youth with Cerebral Palsy. For more information, please see the Rehabilitation Services Page.