Children’s Specialized Hospital Opens Site in Newark Serving Children with Special Needs

Children’s Specialized Hospital announces the opening of a new pediatric outpatient center at 182 Lyons Avenue in Newark, located directly across the street from Newark Beth Israel Medical Center, a member of Barnabas Health.  The hospital began treating patients in mid-September and celebrated the opening with a ribbon cutting Friday, September 27 at the new location. 

Amy Mansue, president and CEO, Children’s Specialized Hospital spoke to a crowd of over 50 supporters, in addition to Marsha Atkind, executive director of Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey.  The Healthcare Foundation’s recent donation helped fund the creating of the Newark facility.  At the ceremony, Newark resident and Children’s Specialized Hospital patient Joshua Lyons and his mom, Audrey shared how the hospital has helped Joshua through many challenges. 

Essex County residents will now have access to specialized pediatric occupational, physical and speech therapies, along with specialized pediatric physician services, all close to home.  This expansion was partially funded by the generous support of the Healthcare Foundation of New Jersey and their $500,000 gift to support the renovations. 

A recent study conducted by experts at Children’s Specialized Hospital suggests the incidence of children with autism living in medically underserved areas is higher (at least 3 percent) than the recent statistics reported by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) for New Jersey of approximately 2 percent for the general population. 

This study confirms the growing number of families in the region continue rise due to lack access to needed pediatric rehabilitation services.  Many children are not receiving all the services they require; others must travel long distances to various service providers throughout New Jersey, often relying on multiple modes of mass public transit. 

Easy access to outpatient services will improve patient attendance and follow-up, which will result in better health and rehabilitation outcomes.  Expansion of services to the pediatric patient population of the state’s largest city and its neighboring communities is the epitome of the hospital’s mission – to create a world where all children can reach their full potential.

More than twenty percent of Children’s Specialized Hospital patients live in Essex and Union Counties; over 500 current patients are Newark residents. The Center will schedule over 9,000 half-hours in its first year of operation; this will shorten wait times, reach a larger population in Newark and its neighborhood, and create more openings at the facilities in Mountainside and Bayonne, which now serve some 520 children from Newark, and over 600 from Elizabeth.

“We are honored to have Children’s Specialized Hospital on the campus of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey,” said John A. Brennan, MD, MPH, President and Chief Executive Officer of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center (NBIMC) and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey (CHoNJ) and Executive Vice President of Barnabas Health.  “Children’s

Specialized has historically been a leader for pediatric rehabilitative care.  Their location at The Beth enhances our offerings and greatly expands services to Newark residents and greater Essex County.” 

As the nation’s largest pediatric rehabilitation system, Children’s Specialized Hospital is pleased to extend their services to Essex County and surrounding the area.  Last year, Children’s Specialized Hospital served more than 20,000 children with special needs. The hospital provides services for children affected by brain injury, spinal cord injury, premature birth, autism, developmental delays, and life-changing illnesses.  The addition of the Newark location will enable the hospital to help even more children with special needs reach their fullest potential.

 “We know there are children who can benefit from our services and we are proud to offer our expertise in medical care, pediatric therapy and family centered care approach to the residents of the Essex County area,” said Patricia Foley, vice president of outpatient services, Children’s Specialized Hospital. 

For more information about services or to help: call 888-CHILDREN; visit www.childrens-specialized.org; find us on www.facebook.com/childrensspecialized, or follow on Twitter @ChildrensSpecNJ.

Children’s Specialized Hospital is the preeminent provider of rehabilitation services for children with special needs. The hospital serves children affected by brain injury, spinal cord injury, premature birth, autism, developmental delays, and life-changing illnesses. Children’s Specialized Hospital has twelve sites in New Jersey and treats 20,000 children each year, making it the largest pediatric rehabilitation system of its kind in the nation. Services include outpatient services, acute rehabilitation, and long-term care through its sites in Bayonne, Clifton, Egg Harbor Township, Mountainside, Toms River, Fanwood, Hamilton, New Brunswick Newark and Roselle Park as well as outreach programs in many communities.  Children's Specialized Hospital is an affiliate member of the Robert Wood Johnson Health System and a proud member of the Children's Miracle Network Hospitals. Children’s Specialized Hospital Foundation supports the programs and services of the hospital. The Foundation is ranked among the top six pediatric hospital foundations in the country. To help, or find more information: visit www.childrens-specialized.org; find us on Facebook - www.facebook.com/childrensspecialized, or follow us on Twitter @ChildrensSpecNJ.