Long-term Care

A Place to Thrive

ChildServe provides 24-hour skilled nursing care in a family-focused environment. We care for children, teens, and young adults who are unable to live at home due to their complex medical needs. Our intensive medical and nursing services support individuals with a variety of conditions. Along with expert medical care, we provide onsite therapy and medical equipment support to help each child and young adult live a full life.

Why choose ChildServe?

Board-Certified
ChildServe has the only board-certified pediatric rehab doctor in Iowa, Fred Klingbeil“Dr. Fred,” as many ChildServe kids call him, provides expert rehabilitation and medical management of children with special healthcare needs. As the only board-certified pediatric rehabilitation doctor in Iowa, Dr. Fred’s years of experience and knowledge in pediatric care are a valuable resource.
, MD, who treats children in the inpatient and outpatient programs.

 

 

Pediatric Experts
ChildServe’s pediatric experts, like our nurses and therapists, have specialized training and additional knowledge to support children with complex medical needs.

 

 

CARF-Accredited
We hold CARF accreditationsBeing CARF-accredited means that the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities recognizes ChildServe as an organization that meets rigorous guidelines for service and quality and conforms to nationally and internationally recognized standards.
in pediatrics, brain injury, and inpatient and outpatient rehabilitation.
Living a Great Life
We want kids to be kids! We help children and young adults living at ChildServe participate in recreational therapy, community events, aquatics, and music therapy to care for the whole child.
Help each Child Thrive
Our pediatric team provides physical, cognitive, spiritual, psychological, and social support to help each child thrive.
Child receiving hug from staff

Who We Serve

ChildServe’s long-term care unit provides 24-hour specialized nursing for children and young adults (infant – 22 year old) with complex medical conditions that require skilled care including the following:

Genetic Disorders

Respiratory Disorders

Neuromuscular Disorders

Seizure Disorders

Our Approach

Children Icon showing a boy and a girl

We Know Kids

Our entire organization is built around kids! ChildServe’s pediatric specialists provide healthcare designed for the developmental needs of children and young adults. The pediatric experts in our program have specialized knowledge and skills to help kids and young adults maximize health. Our facilities and equipment are designed to make kids comfortable, safe, and inspired.
Expert medical Care icon with first aid kit.

Pediatric Rehab

To help children safely access their world and stay comfortable, we provide a variety of onsite services including occupational, physical, speech, and respiratory therapy; medical nutrition; and adaptive equipment program. To enhance therapy and help kids be kids, we also offer recreational, musical, and aquatic therapy.

Purple gear technology icon

Assistive Technology

All of the treatments and services in ChildServe’s long-term care program support children with complex medical needs live a full life. We implement the following technology as needed:

 

  • Bath safety equipment, adaptive equipment, wheelchairs, mobility aids (walkers, gait trainers, standers) and aids for daily living allow for the completion of daily tasks.
  • Our on-site X-ray machine helps medically fragile children avoid the inconvenience of making an additional trip to the hospital.
  • CommunicationAugmentative communication refers to providing ways for children to communicate when they cannot speak or write their needs.
    devices allow children with special healthcare needs to express their thoughts, needs, and feelings. This includes providing adapted toys to help children access the world through play.
  • We provide on-site orthotic“Orthotics” comes from a Greek word meaning “to straighten.” This medical service focuses on creating splints, braces, and other special equipment to help guide a joint or bone in growing or moving correctly. If a child breaks a bone, ChildServe’s orthotist may design a splint to provide easier movement once the initial cast is removed. Orthotics is also used to support children who have received a spinal cord injury or who have movement difficulties due to cerebral palsy.
    services including custom splinting, spinal, and post-surgical orthotics, and extremity orthotics. RespiratoryAdvanced respiratory management means that ChildServe’s skilled registered nurses will provide and/or monitor tracheostomy care, airway clearance, asthma, and ventilator use.
    technology allows us to care for children who are ventilators and tracheostomies.
  • Medical Technology including enteral feedingEnteral feeding involves delivering the nutrients a person needs directly into a person’s stomach, or bowel. Common methods of enteral feeding include NG, gastrostomy, and jejunostomy. ChildServe supports all of these feeding options.
    equipment, TPN, and IVs helps us care for children with feeding and nutrition difficulties.
  • Our on-campus adaptive equipment (DME) workshop provides specialized wheelchair and positioning devices.
Purple Hearth Icon

Living a Great Life

Children and young adults with complex health conditions deserve to experience activities they enjoy with people who care deeply about their comfort and well-being. Each month at ChildServe brings special events for children to be a part of. This may include field trips, adapted pool parties, holiday or seasonal celebrations, and musical guests. Our staff frequently finds new ways to partner with each family and child in ways that suits their wants and needs. Children may attend school in the community, or at ChildServe’s in-house school.
Purple Family icon

We Care about Families

As part of ChildServe’s continuum of care, our specialists partner with parents regarding their child’s condition and care plan. Our long-term care unit invites families to participate in their child’s life as much as possible. We offer spaces to host family celebrations onsite, while our Serenity Room offers families a quiet space to care for spiritual needs. The Healing Garden allows children to spend time in nature and enjoy our adapted swingset. Our Medical Social Workers offer care coordination to help children and their families make the transition to another care facility as the child prepares to age out of eligibility at ChildServe.

Our Team of Specialists

Our team includes a variety of healthcare professionals including the following:
Board Certified Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine Physician
Pediatrician
Board Certified Pediatric Palliative Care Physician
Pediatric Nurse Practitioner

Registered, Licensed Practical and Certified Pediatric Nurses

Certified Brain Injury Specialist
Certified Wound Care Nurse
Occupational Therapist
Physical Therapist
Speech Language Pathologist
RespiratoryAdvanced respiratory management means that ChildServe’s skilled registered nurses will provide and/or monitor tracheostomy care, airway clearance, asthma, and ventilator use.
Therapist
Orthotist
Dietitian
Medical Social Worker
Therapeutic Recreational Specialist
Music Therapist
Aquatic Therapist
Assistive Technology Professional
Electronics Specialist
Volunteer Chaplain

Zach Votes

Going above and beyond is all in a day’s work for ChildServe staff members when a “great life” moment is on the line. When Zach wanted to vote in the 2016 Presidential Election, they worked with a local electoral official and arranged transportation and care to help him get to and from an early-voting satellite location.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I get started?

Contact our Access Specialist by calling 515-331-8106.

How are services authorized and funded?

Program costs are authorized and funded through Iowa Medicaid and commercial insurance. Specific fees will be discussed during the intake/admission process.

Where are services provided?

Long-term Care services are offered at the inpatient program at ChildServe in Johnston.

When are services provided?
Long-term Care services are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Contact Us!

ChildServe – Johnston
5406 Merle Hay Road, Johnston, IA 50131
515-727-8750

If you would like to make a referral, or if you have questions for our team, please call the location of your choice or email communications@childserve.org

ChildServe Center - Johnston

About

ChildServe improves the health and well-being of more than 5,600 children each year through specialized clinical, home, and community-based programs and services. We serve children with developmental delays, disabilities, injuries, and other special healthcare needs.

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