Normally, I don’t look forward to a hospital visit, but my morning at the Hospital for Special Surgery’s new Lerner Children’s Pavilion on the Upper East Side was the exception. Slated to open in mid-October, the country’s #1 hospital for orthopedics will soon have a dedicated “hospital within a hospital,” focused on pediatric orthopedics, rheumatology, and rehabilitation. With sparkling new rooms, a dedicated nursing station, LED lights, spectacular East River views, and state-of-the-art rehabilitation facilities like an expanded pediatric imaging suite, orthopedically safe play areas for all patients and their siblings, and a child-friendly pediatric gym, HSS has created a special, welcoming environment in which their younger patients and their families can benefit from care and services dedicated to their needs—whether they’re being treated for a simple playground injury or undergoing long-term care for a complex musculoskeletal condition, like scoliosis or pediatric arthritis.
My impressive 17-year-old tour guide, Bryan Stromer, who has been receiving treatment at HSS for cerebral palsy since 2001, warmly introduced me to his “second family” of doctors and rehabilitation therapists that not only provide him with superior care but whom Bryan credits for giving him the confidence to become a strong advocate for kids with disabilities. (Bryan is the student representative on the City’s Council on Special Education and has a blog featured on the New York Times’ website: thechoice.blogs.nytimes.com)
Like 27-year-old Shashi Bangera, patients maintain these close relationships beyond the pediatric wing, as they continue their care at HSS into adulthood. Shashi, a former pediatric patient with osteogenesis imperfecta, a genetic condition causing extremely weak bones, has collaborated with her pediatric surgeon to create exercise videos for other wheelchair-bound OI patients. HSS has a multidisciplinary approach that combines medical treatment with nutrition, fitness, and other support services that optimize their patients’ care.
Though, as a parent, I hope not to need their services anytime soon, it’s certainly comforting to know that there’s such a reputable facility for pediatric orthopedic care in my backyard, and that HSS’ expansion will enable their world-class specialists in the areas of orthopedics and rheumatology to treat the growing numbers of children in New York and elsewhere in need of their services.
For more information on HSS and the new Lerner Children’s Pavilion, visit hss.edu
