Medical City Children’s Hospital Specialty Center centralizes a broad range of outpatient services to give children, families and doctors easy access to the support they need. Thanks to the Specialty Center, pediatric patients with a physician referral can receive the services of our dedicated pediatric hospital without the need for a hospital stay.

We provide the following pediatric outpatient services in one convenient location to help physicians provide the highest quality care.

Preoperative Preparation
Our nurses talk with the family about what to expect before, during and after surgery or a procedure. Child Life Specialists also work with children in age-appropriate ways to decrease anxiety and help them cope with these procedures. Additionally, we conduct any necessary lab tests and complete any required paperwork.

Synagis Clinic
We provide convenient access to therapy utilizing the Synagis monoclonal antibody that can help prevent Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV), especially during the fall and winter seasons.

Outpatient Pediatric Lab Testing
Our phlebotomists are specially trained to care for children and know small veins well. We provide a wide array of lab tests from the first few days of life through adolescence. We believe access to prompt results is crucial to maximize the effectiveness of treatments.

IV Infusions
We understand the challenge of administering medication to a child. So we offer a comfortable environment to help alleviate a potentially stressful situation.

Gastric Button Changes
A gastric button is often preferred over a feeding tube because the valve is flush with the child’s skin to provide a less disruptive experience. We replace gastric buttons to ensure the continued delivery of nutrients.

Nutrition
Through nutritional consultations, therapy and counseling, we address the nutritional concerns of obese and underweight children to help them develop and maintain healthy eating habits. Our dietitians are available to help each patient until his or her individual problem is resolved or under control.

Social Work
By assessing a child’s needs for social services and then coordinating those services, we help to enhance the effectiveness of treatment and the child’s well-being during and after treatment.

Lactation Consultation
We provide lactation consultations for mothers and babies experiencing breast-feeding problems such as sore nipples, engorgement, difficult latch, suck problems, low milk supply, inadequate weight gain, jaundice and prematurity. The initial consultation includes a complete assessment of mother and baby, a breast-feeding consultation and the development of a plan to help resolve any identified problems. Follow-up visits can be scheduled as needed.

Physical and Occupational Therapy
Our physical and occupational therapy evaluations and consultations will assist parents and caregivers in developing a plan to help children improve physical abilities, promote positive behavioral changes, adapt to surroundings and teach new skills in order for them to achieve their optimal physical and mental functioning in daily life.

Speech Therapy
We evaluate and diagnose a variety of speech, language, oral/motor and swallowing disorders. These include fluency, oral/facial mycology, speech and articulation, hearing impairment, augmentative communication and cognitive communicative disorders. Access to audiology screenings and evaluations is also available through our pediatric outpatient rehabilitation department.

Hormone Stimulation Testing
We provide hormone stimulation testing that allows for the diagnosis of growth hormone deficiency and precocious puberty. We also test for aldosteronism, which can be linked to Conn’s syndrome, kidney disease and other illnesses.

Developmental Assessments
Through structured clinical evaluations, our board-certified developmental pediatrician assesses physical, language, intellectual, social and emotional development. Tests may include a physical exam, play observation and standardized tests to determine strengths and weaknesses. We also gather additional information by evaluating the child’s growth, physical movements, behavior and interactions with family members.

Anthropology
An understanding of growth patterns in children with congenital deformities of the head and face is very important for identifying defects that may require reconstructive surgery and for evaluating the short- and long-term outcome of that surgery. Our internationally recognized clinical anthropologist performs a detailed series of direct measurements of the head and face, which describe the patterns of the deformity present and provide guidelines for reconstruction and studying postoperative growth.

Media
Our medical photographer takes photographs of children who are being evaluated for craniofacial and other surgeries. These photographs keep a history of the child’s progress and are used to evaluate, plan and treat the child. For each patient, we also use state-of-the-art digital imaging for a visual record that is shared with other team members. We may even make a video record to document specific facial movements. The process is quick, noninvasive and provides a necessary part of the patient’s overall care.

Echocardiograms
An echocardiogram is an ultrasound of the heart. It uses nonradioactive ultrasound waves to view the heart and surrounding blood vessels. It is a safe and painless procedure to help doctors diagnose structural and functional problems of the heart. Our echocardiograms are performed in a child-friendly environment by registered technologists with extensive training in the field of pediatric echocardiology. The exams are then interpreted by pediatric cardiologists. We also offer fetal echocardiography services that allow us to detect potential problems in utero.

Contact Information
Building B, Suite 300 (B-300)
General Information: 972-566-8830