For the fifth year in a row, Children’s Specialized Hospital (CSH), part of the Children’s Health network of RWJBarnabas Health, has earned recognition from Newsweek as one of the world’s best specialized hospitals for pediatrics. The 2026 Newsweek ranking was determined by a global survey in which tens of thousands of medical professionals were invited to give recommendations in their area of expertise, with accreditation data and patient-reported outcome measures also factored in.
“This recognition from Newsweek is a tremendous honor that reflects the expertise, compassion, and innovation of our entire team at Children’s Specialized Hospital,” says Matthew B. McDonald III, MD, President and Chief Executive Officer, Children’s Specialized Hospital. “This reinforces our commitment to advancing care for children with special health needs and ensuring families have access to the best care and outcomes.”
CSH is the nation’s leading provider of inpatient and outpatient rehabilitative care for children from birth to 21 years of age facing unique health challenges—from chronic illnesses and complex physical disabilities to a full scope of developmental, behavioral and mental health concerns.
With 14 different New Jersey locations offering a variety of post-acute services, CSH is ready to partner with you, your patients, and their families to ensure a seamless continuation of care. Let’s work together so every child can reach their full potential!
Acute Inpatient Rehabilitation
At Children’s Specialized Hospital, comprehensive inpatient rehabilitation is provided for children following a serious injury, illness, premature birth, major surgery, chronic illness or pain, or any other life-changing incident.
Located in a state-of-the-art facility in New Brunswick, CSH’s inpatient rehabilitation hospital provides 24-hour medical and nursing care in addition to an intensive daily therapy program. The typical length of stay for an inpatient is 30 days but this can vary widely based on the diagnosis, child and family, and program. CSH’s comprehensive approach ensures each patient, regardless of diagnosis, receives individualized care that treats their unique needs.
In addition to their unique programs and services, another reason CSH is recognized as a leader in specialized pediatrics is because they consistently rank in the 100th percentile on the WeeFIM System, a pediatric version of the Functional Independence Measure (FIM) system. WeeFIM documents and tracks functional performance in children and adolescents with acquired or congenital disabilities by measuring a child’s need for assistance, in addition to the severity of disability. It also provides a method to evaluate outcomes for pediatric rehabilitation programs.
Thanks to the steadfast commitment of CSH’s innovative and skilled team, they are able to ensure that when a patient is discharged from their services, they are returning home with the best possible outcomes.
Programs Offered
- Brain Injury Center of Excellence
- Burn & Wound Care
- Chronic Illness Management Program
- Functional Neurologic Disorders & Chronic Pain Management Center of Excellence
- Infant & Toddler Rehabilitation
- Multi-complicated Trauma
- Prenatal Substance Exposure & Opioid Withdrawal
- Neuromuscular & Genetic Disorders
- Post-Surgical Orthopedics
- Spinal Cord Injury Program
Services Provided
- 24-hour Medical & Nursing Care
- Child Life Services
- Educational Resources
- Nutrition
- Occupational Therapy
- Pet Therapy
- Physical Therapy
- Psychology
- Recreational Therapy
- Rehabilitation Technology
- Speech Language Pathology
- Participation in a variety of leisure activities
Outpatient Programs and Services
Children’s Specialized Hospital also offers a robust catalogue of outpatient services at 11 outpatient sites across the state ensuring rehabilitative care for your patients’ is never far from home. CSH’s pediatric specialists partner with patients, families, and providers to make our many innovative therapies and medical treatments personalized and effective so each child can reach their full potential.
Physician & Therapy Offerings
- Autism Center of Excellence
- Audiology
- Cerebral Palsy Program
- Comprehensive Concussion Care
- Developmental Behavioral Pediatrics
- Early Intervention Program
- Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders Program
- Intensive Feeding Program
- Neurology
- Neuropsychology
- Neurorehabilitation
- Nutrition
- Occupational Therapy
- Orthopedics
- Physical Therapy
- Pelvic Floor Rehabilitation
- Psychology
- Physiatry
- Psychiatry
- Rehabilitation Technology
- Severe Behavior Program
- Special Needs Primary Care
- Speech Language Pathology
Long Term Care, Respite Care, and Palliative Care
Children’s Specialized Hospital also provides pediatric long term, respite, and palliative care services for children with long-term medical needs. CSH’s warm and welcoming atmosphere combines specialized therapeutic medical and nursing care with a diverse array or activities designed to maintain each child’s abilities and encourage their maximum potential.
Additionally, CSH’s Long Term Care facilities perform at the highest level of quality having received CMS 5 Star Ratings in all categories (overall, quality, staffing, and health inspections)
CSH provides care 24-hours a day, 365 days a year, for children with:
- Chromosomal disorders
- Complex seizure disorders
- Complications of microcephaly
- Complications of prematurity
- Craniofacial anomalies
- Degenerative disease processes
- Mechanical ventilator dependency
- Neurological impairments
- Neuromuscular diseases
- Terminal illnesses
- Traumatic brain injuries
- Orthopedic anomalies & conditions
To refer a patient to Children’s Specialized Hospital, please contact together@childrens-specialized.org.