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

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

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.