What to expect for your first clinic visit
To help us complete initial paperwork and concentrate on your child’s care, it’s important to arrive about 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment. That way, we can zip through the registration and insurance process (remember to bring your insurance card and copay) and concentrate on what’s most important — taking great care of your child.
Call us or request a referral from your current physician to schedule your first appointment.
Preparing for a pain clinic visit
If your child will be seen in the pain clinic, here’s what to expect:
- Team up with our experts. Your family will meet with one of our pain management physicians or advanced practice registered nurses to discuss the pain your child experiences in depth. The more details you or your child can provide, the more it will help us arrive at a diagnosis and design a targeted treatment plan. The team is interested in where it hurts, what the pain feels like and how the pain has impacted your child’s and family’s life.
- A brighter future. Once we’re able to understand and diagnose your child’s pain, we suggest a tailored treatment plan. If you agree, we’ll schedule a follow-up appointment as quickly as we can to put this into action.
Palliative care wherever your child is
Most visits with Children’s Minnesota palliative or hospice team begin with a referral if your child’s doctor thinks they could benefit from palliative care.
- If your child is being treated at the hospital, we’ll be at their bedside.
- If your child is at home and able to go to school, you can schedule visits at our palliative outpatient clinic in Minneapolis.
- If your child is too sick to leave home and is located within 30 miles of our Minneapolis and St. Paul facilities, our home care team can come to you.
Most consultations begin with a physician or nurse practitioner’s medical assessment. We get to know your child and the illness and symptoms. Then, we devise a plan to meet your family’s needs. This may involve assessments with a social worker, psychologist or specialist in integrative methods. We’ll arrange it all for you.
Welcoming you to integrative medicine – preparing for a clinic visit
If your child’s care journey starts in the integrative medicine clinic, we can make the first visit less stressful. Before the visit, talk about it with your child. You can show your child a photo of the experts they will meet from our directory.
Step one: let’s talk
Your child will receive an assessment from a doctor or advanced practice nurse. We’ll talk with your family about your child’s symptoms, your treatment goals and more. Then, we will present a treatment plan tailored to your child’s needs.
Our team may demonstrate or help your child practice treatment therapies, such as aromatherapy or biofeedback.
Step two: take action
Generally, the first follow-up appointment is 2 – 4 weeks after the initial evaluation. The number of follow-ups will depend on your child’s needs and family preference.
Integrative medicine is a family affair, and we are here to answer your questions, help build your skills and provide guidance when bringing integrative techniques into your child’s life. For instance, you can practice deep breathing together to help your child sleep more soundly. Or perhaps mental imagery can encourage your child to use those skills to cope with stress or anxiety. It will take time to pick up these new skills, so be patient with your child – and yourself.
