New Orleans hospital is first in the state to receive pediatric spinal cord injury rehabilitation certification

Written By Alicia Vial

Children’s Hospital New Orleans has joined an elite group nationally, as one of two children’s hospitals to earn accreditation in four pediatric rehabilitation programs offered by CARF International

NEW ORLEANS - Children’s Hospital New Orleans is the only CARF accredited pediatric rehabilitation program in Louisiana and recently added an additional specialty to its prestigious lineup of specialty programs offered. Children’s Hospital is now accredited in the Spinal Cord Injury Specialty to accompany its accreditations in Inpatient Rehab, Pediatric Specialty and Brain Injury Specialty by CARF International.

CARF International is an independent, nonprofit accreditor of health and human services, and serves as the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities. CARF International accreditation includes a comprehensive review to determine if a provider’s services meet international standards of quality. Achieving accreditation means the healthcare provider is committed to delivering safe and effective services and ongoing performance improvement.

“Children’s Hospital New Orleans’ Inpatient Rehab Program continues to set the standard for pediatric rehabilitation,” said Lucio A. Fragoso, president and CEO of Children’s Hospital. “The recent Pediatric Spinal Cord Injury accreditation makes us one of only two pediatric rehabilitation programs in the country to have this level of accreditation, and the only one in the Gulf South. Children’s Hospital was founded as a rehabilitation hospital following the polio epidemic in 1955 and has maintained that strong commitment to pediatric rehabilitation for nearly 70 years.”

The Rehabilitation Center at Children’s Hospital provides comprehensive interdisciplinary, family-centered inpatient and outpatient services to patients from birth through 21 years. The dedicated inpatient rehabilitation unit is designed to provide the education and skills to prepare patients with a wide variety of diagnoses to transition home after an acute stay. Conditions treated include traumatic brain injury, spinal cord injury, Guillain-Barre’, transverse myelitis, encephalitis, amputation, brain tumor, trauma, among many other serious illnesses and injuries.

“Our team consistently demonstrates dedication and a commitment to excellence with the goal of providing the highest level of rehabilitation care to our pediatric population,” said Todd Danos, MBA, LOTR, FACHE, assistant vice president for hospital operations at Children’s Hospital. “Sustaining a spinal cord injury is a life-altering event for patients and their families. The CARF accreditation reinforces the outstanding work being done by our team in optimizing each patient’s functional well-being and enhancing their quality of life as they recover and learn to embrace their new normal.”

The rehabilitation program at Children’s Hospital helps children and adolescents concentrate on restoring abilities by helping them adapt to their new skills. Each patient is followed using a criteria-based system to evaluate functional skill development with respect to medical status, motor skills, cognitive and communicative abilities, self-care capabilities and the family’s unique needs.

To learn more about the Rehabilitation Center at Children’s Hospital New Orleans, visit chnola.org.

###

About Children’s Hospital New Orleans
Children’s Hospital New Orleans is a 263-bed, nonprofit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, delivered just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Children’s offers a comprehensive array of pediatric healthcare services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, the hospital operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette and Diamondhead, MS. Children’s offers primary care services at 14 convenient locations and remotely via its Virtual Care for Kids program. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, East Jefferson General Hospital, Tulane Medical Center, Lakeview Hospital and Lakeside Hospital. Learn more at chnola.org. 

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

Previous

Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana welcomes Charles Stewart to board
Next

Gambel Communications Welcomes Kirstie Jett