Children’s Hospital Los Angeles Achieves Three-Year CARF International Re-Accreditation

LOS ANGELES (August 14, 2024) — Children’s Hospital Los Angeles (CHLA) is proud to announce it has received a three-year reaccreditation (highest possible) from the Commission on Accreditation for Rehabilitation Facilities (CARF International). This reaccreditation recognizes CHLA for meeting rigorous standards set by CARF to deliver high quality, patient-centered care.

The reaccreditation comes as a result of a successful survey conducted June 24-25, 2024, for CHLA’s Margie and Robert E. Petersen Foundation Rehabilitation Center. The Rehabilitation Center holds accreditations through CARF International in two areas – Comprehensive Inpatient Rehabilitation with a specialty in Pediatrics.

“This accomplishment reflects CHLA’s dedication to patients and the quality-of-care Team CHLA provides,” said Bryant Edwards, Executive Director of Rehabilitation and Professional Services at Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. “The efforts of our team members, from frontline staff to executive leadership, have not only secured our reaccreditation for the next three years but also highlight CHLA as a leader in rehabilitation services. Our program is one of only a handful of pediatric inpatient rehab programs on the West Coast—and the only in Southern California— to be recognized by CARF.”

Surveyors expressed high praise for the comprehensive work accomplished over the past three years, particularly with the effective implementation of previous improvement plans. Highlights from the survey feedback include:

• Collaboration: CHLA team members work together collaboratively and are committed to program development, quality improvement, and evidence-based practice. During the survey, families recognized the hospital’s strong teamwork and stated that its team members were the “angels that work here.”
• Healing: CHLA provides a healing environment with offerings to help individuals along their healing journey. These include the Interfaith Center, Spiritual Care services, the Joyce and Stanley Black and Family Healing and Meditation Garden and The Jane Vruwink Palmer Healing and Play Garden.
• Team Resources: CHLA team members are provided with resources and programs to help them with stressful situations, such as Emotional Support Services meetings, the Healing Response Team peer supporter program, and Tea for the Soul.
• DEI: CHLA believes creating a diverse, equitable and inclusive environment is essential to giving every child a healthier future. Surveyors found this to be evident with the organization’s diversity, equity and inclusion training and efforts.
• Donor Support: With the support of donors, CHLA created a loaner/giveaway program, which provides patients and families with therapeutic items when the items are not covered by their insurance.
• Skin Champions Program: Surveyors found the Skin Champions Program and the structured practice of skin checks occurred after removing braces and splints to minimize risk or injury.
• Multidisciplinary Collaboration: For patients in acute care at CHLA, there is a bridge program that facilitates early access to rehabilitation services, which expedites transitions to the inpatient program.
• Family Education: The Rehabilitation Center Education Committee and other programs teach and educate families.
• Profession Expansion: Surveyors identified Medical Director Kevan Craig, DO, with a strong commitment to the program and to growing the profession though the residency program.