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Working with Health Providers
Information about how to work together with your child's health provider.
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Communication

Tips to improve communication with your child’s physician:
  • Ask questions about your child’s condition
  • Ask for written information about your child’s condition with specific web links, books, or handouts
  • Clarify what you do not understand
  • Make a follow up appointment
  • Bring a list of questions and concerns about your child to discuss with your healthcare providers
  • Ask for specific recommendations and referral for intervention
  • Keep a copy of all medical evaluations and recommendations
  • Create a passport with all the dates of diagnosis, treatments and contact information for providers and bring it with you when you go to an appointment
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Finding the Right Physician

Qualities of a good physician for your child:
  • Accessible for communication outside of appointments
  • Provides options for communication: email, messages through online medical chart, phone
  • Responds promptly to your requests
  • Provides clear verbal and written instructions
  • Asks for your opinion
  • Creates a partnership in decision making
  • Ready to listen
  • Supportive, compassionate, and knowledgeable
  • Provides timely copies of evaluations, referral and support letters
  • Being able to advocate for your child
  • Being able to collaborate and refer to another specialist
  • Connecting with other team members such as teachers, therapists or other medical providers
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Establishing a Medical Home

Children with DD/ID have ongoing and complex medical, educational and psychological needs and would benefit from having a medical home. The Medical Home is a way to provide care for all your child’s needs by a primary care team and in direct collaboration with the patient and family.

The medical home can be provided by the primary care physician or by a medical specialist such as a Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician and may also include a nurse or social worker. It provides ongoing coordination of care, follow ups, and support for the family.
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