What to Expect at Your First Appointment at the Center for Better Health and Nutrition
Being healthy is about so much more than numbers on a scale. It’s about building strong bodies, happy hearts and confident minds. That’s what we do at the Center for Better Health and Nutrition (CBHN).
Our team of specialists includes physicians, dietitians, exercise physiologists, nurses and medical assistants. But, the most important members of our team are your child and your family. Together, we’ll find the healthy lifestyle changes that make the most sense for your entire family. We’ve found this approach to be the most successful in promoting lifelong habits that reduce the risk of serious health conditions.
We’ll also work to address the serious emotional and mental health issues. Many of the children and teens we see struggle with anxiety, depression, disordered eating, bullying and much more. That’s why we take a whole-health approach to set your child up for lifelong success.
Starting a healthy lifestyle can be a little overwhelming – for kids and families alike. We’re here to answer questions, provide support and cheer your family along every step of the way.
Making an Appointment at the Center for Better Health and Nutrition
Making an appointment at CBHN is simple. Your child’s doctor can call, or you can make an appointment without a referral. Contact us to start the scheduling process.
When you talk to one of our representatives, you’ll be asked to complete a one-page questionnaire before scheduling your child’s appointment. This questionnaire gives us important information about your child’s medical and social history. It will be mailed to you, along with a return envelope with postage.
Once we receive this information, a representative from Cincinnati Children’s will call you to schedule your child’s appointment. It can take up to two weeks after you send in your survey before you receive a phone call.
A representative from CBHN will call you about one week before your child’s appointment. We can answer any questions you may have and confirm the appointment time and location with you.
We encourage families to check with their insurance providers to ensure the appointment will be covered. Call your insurance company and share the following billing codes: E66.9, E66.01, E66.3.
If you have additional questions, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
On the Day of Your Visit to the Center for Better Health and Nutrition
We’re here to make your child’s first visit to CBHN easy. You don’t need to bring anything to the appointment. We’ll even have a few activities, like coloring pages, on hand to help entertain your child during the appointment.
We do ask children with a morning appointment to fast. This means they cannot eat or drink anything (except water) starting 8 hours before their scheduled appointment. This allows us to collect bloodwork to check or risk of diabetes, cholesterol problems and liver issues.
Please allow about 15 minutes to park and walk to our location. When you arrive, please check in at the main desk. They can direct you to our specialty clinic area.
Please call us if you are running late. We may ask you to reschedule your appointment if you are more than 30 minutes late.
At Your Appointment
During your child’s first appointment, your child’s health team will get an understanding of any factors that may be contributing to abnormal weight gain. Your child will meet with a:
- Provider (physician or advanced practice provider)
- Dietitian
- Exercise physiologist
We’ll also assess your child’s risk factors for metabolic diseases, which can include diabetes, high blood pressure, sleep apnea and many others.
A dietician and exercise physiologist will also discuss current eating and exercise habits. Then, they’ll help your child choose goals (for themselves and the family) that will get them on the path to a healthier body and mind.
You may also be told about research studies taking place. You can choose to enroll your child in the study or not. It’s completely up to you. Your decision will not affect the quality of care your child receives.
This initial appointment typically takes 1½ to 2 hours.
A follow-up appointment will be scheduled before you leave. Follow-ups can range from once a month to once every six months. Most families schedule follow-up appointments every three months. Your child may be referred to another specialist to address any underlying health conditions identified during the visit, such as seeing a sleep medicine specialist for sleep apnea or a mental health specialist for binge eating or depression.
After Your Visit to the Center for Better Health and Nutrition
You will receive an After Visit Summary before you leave. This includes important information about labs ordered, goals created and follow-up appointments or referrals to other departments.
If your child had labs done, the doctor or nurse will contact you to discuss results typically about seven days after labs are completed. We will also share notes and test results with your child’s pediatrician or other specialty healthcare providers.
We know that improving your family’s lifestyles doesn’t happen overnight. Please feel free to contact us with us any questions or concerns you have between your child’s appointments. You are also welcome to use the messaging feature in MyChart.
