The physicians and staff at Rockford Spine Center provide free exams and services for the children at Walter Lawson Children’s Home. About once a month we bring a multidisciplinary team, including a spine surgeon, physician assistant, nurse and physical therapist, along with an occupational therapist and orthotics maker, to the home for a clinic. We coordinate exams, write prescriptions, have orthotics made and provide physical therapy – all on site, so the children receive needed medical care in a familiar and convenient setting.
Each month we give a free community lecture on spine conditions. The Saturday presentations are our way of helping people learn about spine health.
Our free pediatric physical therapy clinic grew out of our longstanding work with the local Easter Seals organization. Now a partnership with Rebound Pediatric Physical Therapists, the clinic provides free physical therapy for children in foster care or children who otherwise would not have access to such services. The clinic is held at the Rockford Spine Center physical therapy department every four to six weeks.
Over the years, our surgeons have provided free spine surgeries for children from countries including Haiti, China and Ethiopia. For each surgery, Rockford Spine Center donates physician and staff time and materials for the procedure, and finds local hosts for the children and their families. In addition, physicians donate their time to consult remotely on international cases.