Introduction to the Closure
Elizabeth Berenz’s 7-year-old son Arthur has a rare, genetic neurodevelopmental disorder that leaves him unable to stand or walk independently. But when he’s in the warm-water therapy pool at Arlington Pediatric Therapy in Arlington Heights, he becomes buoyant. His face lights up as he’s able to stride around, Berenz says. “It’s like a different world when he’s in the pool,” she says. “It’s magical for him.”
Arthur Berenz during aqua therapy at Arlington Pediatric Therapy, which will be closing in August.
The Impact on Families
His mother says Arthur has been receiving physical therapy since he was an infant and has bonded with his aqua therapist at Arlington Pediatric Therapy, where he has been going since 2021. But Berenz, who lives in Highland Park, says it was “awful” to learn that Lurie Children’s Hospital is planning to shut down the practice on Aug. 15. The hospital acquired the 43-year-old independent therapy practice in February 2023. Families with children who receive therapy there — one employee estimated there are at least 700 pediatric clients a week — recently got a letter from Lurie Children’s saying the hospital made “the difficult decision to close” the facility because it’s opening a Lurie Children’s outpatient center in Schaumburg in the fall.
New Facility and Services
The new, 75,000-square-foot facility at 1895 Arbor Glen Blvd. will have primary care, ancillary and diagnostic services and offer orthotics and prosthetics, laboratory and pharmacy services and have an ambulatory infusion center. The letter urged parents to use the hospital’s cost estimate tool because “you may or may not have higher out-of-pocket costs when receiving care at a hospital outpatient center.” Many parents say they are worried that the closing will make it difficult for their children to get the services they need at Lurie Children’s new facility, which won’t offer aqua therapy.
Lauren Hutchins and her husband, Ryan, with two of their four children — 6-year-old daughter Vera and 8-year-old son Henry — at home in Arlington Heights.
Concerns and Uncertainties
Lauren Hutchins, of Arlington Heights, says the announced closure “felt like a gut punch.” Hutchins’s daughter Vera, 6, has been going to Arlington Pediatric Therapy since she was 3 months old to address developmental delays due to a genetic mutation. With weekly therapy, her mother says, Vera was able to crawl at 15 months and walk at 2. She’s now able to speak in short sentences. “She meets all the milestones, eventually,” Hutchins says. “It’s just on her own timeline.” But now Hutchins is worried that a different payment structure could upend that.
Staff and Client Impacts
An employee of Arlington Pediatric Therapy says about 40 therapists were told they could apply for seven open positions at the new facility in Schaumburg. Lurie Children’s Hospital declined an interview request and would not confirm the planned staff cuts or the number of affected clients. Lurie Children’s spokeswoman Julianne Bardele says: “We are working diligently to make the transition as smooth as possible and support those impacted, including working with impacted team members to explore transitioning their role to other open positions at Lurie Children’s. For our patients, we will be offering transition of care services to our other locations.”
Conclusion
The closure of Arlington Pediatric Therapy has left many families concerned about the future of their children’s therapy. While Lurie Children’s Hospital has announced plans to open a new outpatient center in Schaumburg, the lack of aqua therapy services and potential changes to payment structures have created uncertainty for those who rely on these services. As the families affected by the closure navigate this transition, it is essential for Lurie Children’s Hospital to provide clear guidance and support to ensure that these children continue to receive the care they need.
FAQs
Q: Why is Lurie Children’s Hospital closing Arlington Pediatric Therapy?
A: The hospital cited the opening of a new outpatient center in Schaumburg as the reason for the closure.
Q: Will the new facility in Schaumburg offer aqua therapy?
A: No, the new facility will not offer aqua therapy.
Q: How many clients will be affected by the closure?
A: It is estimated that at least 700 pediatric clients per week will be affected.
Q: What support will Lurie Children’s Hospital provide to impacted families?
A: The hospital will offer transition of care services to its other locations.
Q: Can therapists at Arlington Pediatric Therapy apply for positions at the new facility in Schaumburg?
A: Yes, about 40 therapists were told they could apply for seven open positions at the new facility.
<img class="Image" alt="The Arlington Pediatric Therapy in Arlington Heights" srcset="https://cst.brightspotcdn.com/dims4/default/83562
