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It is clear that individuals with Down syndrome require a multidisciplinary approach, although families often find themselves running from place to place visiting multiple specialists without the specialists being aware of what each other is doing. The number of physician appointments to obtain the required monitoring that individuals with Down syndrome need can be very overwhelming.
The Down Syndrome Clinic at St.Vincent Hospital was created to provide comprehensive care to individuals with Down syndrome. The multidisciplinary team is in direct contact with the patient's primary care physician. There are many different specialists available, including: Genetics, Pediatric Cardiology, Pediatric Otolaryngology, Adolescent Medicine, Audiology, Occupational Therapy, Speech Therapy, Physical Therapy, Nutrition, and Social Work. Families can expect to spend about three hours in the clinic, depending on which specialists they need to see. Additionally, we often send people to the laboratory to have routine bloodwork performed and to the Audiology department for a hearing test. All the other specialists are seen in the Medical Genetics Center, eliminating the need to travel to different offices or parts of the hospital.
The purpose of the clinic is to provide the best possible care for individuals with Down syndrome by focusing on the prevention and early detection of medical and developmental issues associated with Down syndrome. We hope to reduce the overwhelming pressure placed on individuals to keep medical appointments at different times and locations and to improve the care of children and adults with Down syndrome by increasing communication between specialists. The clinic also serves as a resource for information and a mechanism for families to meet each other.
An appointment to the Down Syndrome Clinic can be made by yourself or your doctor. Each specialist bills individually, so your primary care physician will need to make a referral if that is required by your insurance company. Your primary care physician will receive one comprehensive report from the specialists that your child or family member sees in the clinic.
Recommendations for which specialist to see depend on your child's specific needs. In general, we recommend the following for every child:
- Genetics: at birth, 6 weeks, 6 months, one year and then annually
- Pediatric Cardiology: at birth
- Developmental Evaluations: (including OT, PT and speech therapy evaluations): 6 weeks, 6 months, 12 months, 18 months, two years and then annually
- Nutrition: 6 weeks, 6 months, one year and then annually
- Otolaryngology: one year and then annually
- Audiology: one year and then annually
To schedule an appointment in the Down Syndrome Clinic call (317) 338-5288. For more information, please contact:
Deborah Lane, MS, CGC
Genetic Counselor
Coordinator, Down Syndrome Clinic
(317) 338-5288
or
Luis F. Escobar, MD
Director, Medical Genetics
(317) 338-5288 |
