What to Expect at Your First Appointment at the Intestinal Rehabilitation Center
At the Intestinal Rehabilitation Center, we work as a team, and the parents and child are the most important members of that team. We want what’s best for your child and try to make sure every patient meets their full potential.
During your first appointment, both you and your child may be apprehensive about yet another treatment center. That’s OK. Our job is to ease your anxieties and help your child live their best life, despite their medical challenges.
Making an Appointment at the Intestinal Rehabilitation Center
We want it to be easy for you to get the care your child needs. You can contact the Intestinal Rehab program coordinator directly to start the new patient referral process. Or, your child’s pediatrician, gastroenterologist or other provider can refer your child to our clinic. We also take referrals from other hospitals.
Before Your Appointment
A program coordinator or nurse will contact you before your child’s appointment to prepare for the upcoming visit. During this call, we will:
- Gather information about symptoms, health history and past treatments
- Review your child’s current home health providers and any home care medical or infusion companies that provide services for them
- Discuss what to expect during the first visit and answer any questions
On the Day of Your Visit to the Intestinal Rehabilitation Center
Arriving at Your Appointment
You will need to arrive about 30 minutes before your child’s appointment—15 minutes to park and walk to our clinic and 15 minutes to check in at our registration desk.
If you are running late, please contact us.
At Your Appointment
Our primary goal during your first visit to the Intestinal Rehabilitation Center is to give you a chance to tell your story. You and your child have likely been through a lot, and we want to determine how we can best help your child have a better quality of life.
Your child will be seeing a team that may include gastroenterologists, surgeons, registered nurses, nurse practitioners, social workers, pharmacists and speech pathologists. They will examine your child, ask lots of questions, and possibly order labs or tests to be completed.
Your first visit can range anywhere from two to three hours for a clinic appointment, to several days if we are performing additional testing.
After Your Visit to the Intestinal Rehabilitation Center
You will receive an “After Visit Summary” at the end of your appointment, which includes important information about upcoming appointments, test results, referrals to specialists, and all medications (including new prescriptions). It will also include contact information for your child’s care team.