and speech. Not expected to live past
age nine, Logan is now 10 and thriving
– and his therapists have a great deal to
hospital and able to be more
independent going forward
in life.”
The McLane Children’s
staff of four physical
therapists (PT), one physical
therapist assistant, and six
occupational therapists (OT)
see children dealing with a
range of challenges including
amputations, neuromuscular
disorders, autism, cerebral
palsy, developmental delays,
and orthopedic injuries among
others. Services are offered in
the hospital’s neonatal and
pediatric intensive care units,
on the medical/surgical floors
and in an outpatient clinic.
The department’s excellent
care has helped many children,
exceeding 3,000 visits each
year in the outpatient clinic,
but because of limited space that
restricts the number of patients who
Physical Therapy develops gross motor skills or major movements of the body
like rolling, sitting, crawling, walking, jumping, running, and playing as well as
strengthening and posture.
Occupational Therapy develops fine motor skill including holding utensils,
handwriting, dressing, zipping, tying, and other hand movements. It also helps
children with autism, who experience light and touch differently.
do with it. “Physical and occupational
therapy make such a difference for
so many kids,” says Kelli Howell,
PT, DPT, MPH, clinical manager for
rehabilitation at McLane Children’s.
“It keeps them mobile and out of the
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THE CATALYST Fall 17 | bswhealth.com
can be seen each day, more than 200
children are currently on a six-month
waitlist for therapy services.
“We can only evaluate seven
new patients each week in PT/OT,
and many travel a long way for care.
We’re overwhelmed by demand and
strapped for space,” says Dr. Howell.
“Providing great care and outcomes
has led to referrals, which is good, but
unfortunately, we have to turn families
away. We’re already using hallways, the
hospital lobby, garden, and playground
to deliver our care. The expansion
will increase our space and allow us to
double our staff, which will drastically
reduce the patient backlog.”
Imaging Services:
Leading the way with 3T MRI
The new campaign will fund a 3T MRI
(magnetic resonance imaging), making
McLane Children’s the first children’s
hospital in Texas, and one of the first
in the nation, to acquire this advanced
technology. The 3T delivers better
resolution, faster scans, and the ability
to scan the entire body in seconds.
“The 3T MRI is a game-changer for the
hospital, community, and children we
serve,” says Ran Samaniego, director
of the Department of Diagnostic and
Therapeutic Services. “It will allow us
to perform cardiac and neurological
studies, and eliminate the need to
refer patients and their families to
Houston or Fort Worth. That means
children and families can stay closer
to home for great care.” Unlike CT
scans that use X-ray technology, MRIs
use powerful magnetic fields and radio
frequency pulses to produce highly
detailed and clear pictures of organs,
soft tissues, bone, and other internal
body structures.
“The resolution of the new 3T MRI
is extraordinary,” says Mr. Samaniego.