Rehab

Hospitals offering therapy to premature babies

Rehab Regs, May 19, 2006

PT and OT can help premature babies adjust to their early arrival, but not enough hospitals offer the services, according to KHOU.com in Houston.

About 30% of premature infants need PT or OT that can help improve range of motion, the suck-swallow reflex, and breathing. However, the services are typically only offered at major hospitals, KHOU.com reported.

Memorial Hermann Hospital in The Woodlands, TX, is one of the first smaller, community hospitals to add therapy services to its neonatal intensive care unit.

The facility told KHOU.com that the services are vital to the development of the babies and allows parents to not transfer to other hospitals to receive the treatment.

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