Your circle of support

At Children’s Minnesota, we’re dedicated to kids’ care and comfort. The neurology team knows that caring for brains and nervous systems is only part of our job. When you get down to it, we’re on a mission to improve quality of life for our patients and their families. And that means building trust from that very first meeting.

Paths to our door

Kids usually come into Children’s general neurology program in one of two ways:

  • In the hospital. Neurologists often join the care team when a child is admitted to the hospital for brain or nervous system care. In that case, you’ll probably meet us at the bedside or during family-centered rounds.
  • At the clinic. Children’s general neurology clinic is usually your first stop when new brain or nervous system symptoms pop up. Many of our patients are referred by their pediatricians for expert diagnosis and treatment. We also provide follow-up care after emergency room visits and hospital stays.

Tips for your first clinic visit

A new doctor can be a big deal for little patients. So before visiting a neurologist, take time to ECG (Electrocardiogram). Show your child a photo of the doctor from our directory. Younger children may enjoy acting out the visit with a parent or stuffed animal as the patient. Encourage older kids to write down any questions they want to ask the neurologist.

The first clinic visit can take up to an hour . You and your child will meet with a pediatric neurologist — a specialist in treating children’s brain and nervous system conditions. The neurologist will examine your child, ask questions about his or her symptoms and go over any test results. Based on this evaluation, you may be referred for additional testing to rule out or diagnose certain conditions.

Speaking of tests, if your child has had any of the following, please bring the results along (or ask your doctor to send them to our office):

Arriving for your appointment

Please arrive about 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment so we can complete the registration and insurance process. That way, we can more quickly concentrate on what’s most important —taking great care of your child. Remember to bring your ID and insurance card.

  • Late Arrivals: If you arrive more than 15 minutes late for your appointment start time, you may need to wait, see a different clinician, or we may need to reschedule your appointment for another day.
  • No Shows: If you need to cancel, please notify us at least 24 hours prior to your scheduled appointment.

For more information, please read our full appointment policy.

Taking the next step

Sometimes it takes a village to heal a child. Fortunately, Children’s puts a thriving metropolis of experts at your service. Your neurologist will help make sure you get to the right people at the right time. He or she also works with your pediatrician to coordinate complete care for your child.

GET EDUCATED

At Children’s Minnesota, we know how important reliable information about conditions and illnesses is.