What to Expect at Your First Appointment at the Colorectal Center

When a child experiences colorectal problems, it can greatly impact their quality of life. You may have seen several specialists, and you want to find a treatment that will work. So do we.

We have lots of experience with your child’s condition and the right support staff to help you and your child feel comfortable. During your nurse intake conversation before your appointment, you will learn exactly what’s going to happen when you come to our center — and how you can best prepare your child. Please let us know about any special needs your child has, so we can tailor their care specifically to them.

Making an Appointment at the Colorectal Center

We want it to be easy for you to get the care your child needs. You can contact us directly to schedule an appointment. Or, your child’s pediatrician, gastroenterologist or surgeon can refer your child to our center. We also take referrals from the emergency department and other hospitals.

One or two days after we receive your referral, one of our nurses will call you to help guide your care. This could include receiving and reviewing records from your previous care facilities. After the nurse intake is complete, a surgeon reviews your child’s case.

In the meantime, we will connect you with our pre-registration team to update your records with complete contact and insurance information. Then, our insurance preauthorization team works to make sure you will receive the maximum insurance benefits possible.

Once you are approved for an appointment, our scheduling team will reach out to you.

On the Day of Your Visit to the Colorectal Center

Arriving At Your Appointment

You should arrive about 25 minutes before your child’s appointment — allowing 10 minutes to park and 15 minutes to check in. Most of our patients have a coordinated radiology appointment to complete before our clinic appointment, so you will head to radiology first. If not, you will come straight to our clinic.

If you are running late, please contact us.

At Your Appointment

During your appointment, we will review any testing your child recently completed, such as a water-soluble contrast enema or abdominal X-ray. We will also ask how well your child’s current bowel regimen is working. At this first visit, your child will be seeing a nurse and their colorectal provider, and they could be seeing a registered dietitian, a child life support specialist and a variety of other doctors, including urologists and gynecologists.

Every patient experience is different, but you and your child should be prepared for:

• Testing
• Visits with a nurse
• Conversation with a dietitian
• A physical exam, if needed
• Visits with your provider to discuss your plan of care

At the end of your appointment, one of our nurse coordinators will review your “After Visit Summary with you and walk you through any next steps or follow-up, such as testing, non-surgical bowel care or surgical intervention. You will also receive any treatment recommendations from your physician at this time.

After Your Visit to the Colorectal 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. Our clinical team works closely with our schedulers to anticipate next steps and provide well-coordinated visits to make the most of your valuable time. 

If you need a follow-up appointment, you may be eligible for an eVisit. Ask your provider for more details.