Preparing for your clinic visit

As a patient at The Children’s Heart Clinic, we understand the stress involved in bringing your child in for their first appointment. Our goal is to make you feel as comfortable as possible, prepare you with all of the information we can, while providing the best care for your child.

Knowing what to expect helps make the first visit less stressful. Before the visit, talk about going to see a doctor with your child. Show your child a photo of the doctor from our website. With younger kids, it may also help to draw pictures (stick figures work just fine!) or act out the upcoming visit with a stuffed animal as the patient.

Children's Minnesota | The Children's Heart Clinic

Please arrive 15 minutes prior to your scheduled visit for check-in. We ask at every visit that you bring your insurance card and photo ID for us to verify.

In general, the first clinic visit takes about two and a half hours. A parent/or guardian and child will meet with the pediatric cardiologist—a specialist in treating children’s heart and blood vessel conditions. The cardiologist will assess the child’s health, ask about any symptoms the child is having and go over the results of any tests.

It is possible that your cardiologist will review your previous records and order an echocardiogram (Echo) or electrocardiogram (EKG) to complete your evaluation.

Important information to consider

Release forms

We take every precaution to ensure that the rights and privacy of our patients are protected. To ensure the privacy of patients and their families, and to comply with federal regulations, parents or guardians must sign a release of information form to receive a copy of your medical records (if over 18) or your child’s medical records.

Privacy policy

The Children’s Heart Clinic and Children’s Minnesota handle health information carefully and maintain your privacy. We are dedicated to delivering the best care, along with a positive experience, and want you to know about the rights and responsibilities you have when your child is in our care. View our privacy policy »