Children will follow this schedule if they meet our enrollment criteria, were cared for in any one of several Atlanta area NICUs, and receive primary medical care (checkups and shots, immunizations) from a private pediatrician, a clinic other than the DPC at Hughes Spalding Hospital, or a clinic at another location. The information gained from our visit will be shared with you and your child's primary health care provider. Visits for babies born prematurely are scheduled by their corrected age.
4 Months Visit
At the four-month visit a medical team member, physical or occupational therapist and social worker will see you and your child. It is very important that you keep this appointment. If, for any reason, you cannot keep this appointment call the number on your appointment slip and reschedule. A parent/primary caregiver needs to be present during this visit. Having a parent/primary caregiver present is important for making your child feel comfortable. It is also important for you to tell us what you have seen your child do at home and what your concerns may be.
Physical Examination: A member of our medical team, which consists of pediatric nurse practitioners, neonatologists and pediatricians, will see you and your child at each visit. They will try to answer any questions you may have about the medical problems your child experienced in the NICU. The medical personnel will perform a physical examination paying particular attention to your child's growth patterns, reflexes, motor movements and tone. These are areas that can reveal early signs of neurodevelopmental problems.
Therapist Evaluation: The therapist will assess your infant's muscle tone, movement patterns and ability to tolerate interaction with people and objects. The therapist will ask you about your infant's behaviors at home. The therapist’s expertise working with infants who have spent time in the NICU and knowledge of normal growth and development will help in evaluating how your infant is progressing. At the end of this session the therapist will offer suggestions to help with any area of concern that has been noted.
Social Worker Visit: The social worker from our team will meet with each family at least once in the child's first year of life. The purpose of the social worker's interview is to identify sources of support for families and to determine if all appropriate resources are being made available to each family. Any family can request to see the social worker during a clinic visit. Our social worker is always available by phone.
Summary: At the end of your visit you will be given feedback regarding any areas of concern that the staff noted. A written report will be sent to your child's primary health care provider and to you on MyChart or in USPS mail.
9 to 12 Months Visit
Between 9-12 months adjusted age, your child will be evaluated by a developmental team member, medical team member and social worker.
A parent/primary caregiver needs to be present during these assessments. If you have twins two adults should come to this appointment so that both children can be assessed during the same time slot. Having a parent/primary caregiver present is important for making your child feel comfortable. It is also important for you to tell us what you have seen your child do at home and what your concerns may be. The information provided by you, together with the assessment results help us understand your child's strengths and weaknesses. This information will be used to decide what services, additional assessments, or treatments, your child may need.
Developmental Evaluation: A member of our developmental team will assess your child. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development: Second Edition is the tool that is usually used. This assessment compares your child's performance (corrected for prematurity) to the performance of the average child of that age. This assessment can inform us about your child's development right now. This assessment will not tell us what your child will be able to do when he/she is older. This is why we will schedule your child for several evaluations during the preschool years. The best way to learn about a young child's development is to look at the child over time. This enables us to look at how your child has changed since the last assessment, as well as comparing your child's performance to the average performance for a particular age.
Physical Examination: A member of our medical team will address developmental and medical issues that may have arisen since your last visit at the clinic. They will again perform a physical examination.
Social Worker Visit: If you did not have the opportunity to meet with our social worker she will meet with you during at least one of these visits. Some families may be actively working with our social worker and she will make a special effort to talk with them during this appointment. Any family may request to see the social worker during any visit to clinic.
Summary: At the end of your visit you will be given feedback regarding any areas of concern that the staff noted. A written report will be sent to your child's primary health care provider and to you on MyChart or in USPS mail.
If between visits you become concerned about any area of your child's development, we urge you to call us. If the problem can not be handled over the phone, we may request to see your child, or we may suggest an appointment with an outside specialist. Please use us as a resource for helping your child.
Annual Visits Between 22 months to 4 to 5 years of age
A developmental team member, medical team member, and social worker will see your child.
Developmental Evaluation: Evaluations will be scheduled based on the concerns identified at the 12 month assessment. The Bayley Scales of Infant Development: Second Edition is the tool that is usually used. This assessment compares your child's performance (corrected for prematurity) to the performance of the average child of that age. This assessment can inform us about your child's development right now. This assessment will not tell us what your child will be able to do when he/she is older. This is why we will schedule your child for several evaluations during the preschool years. The best way to learn about a young child's development is to look at the child over time. This enables us to look at how your child has changed since the last assessment, as well as comparing your child's performance to the average performance for a particular age.
Physical Examination: A member of our medical team will address any developmental and medical issues that may have arisen since your last visit at the clinic. They will again perform a physical examination.
Social Work Visit: Our social worker is available to help families secure services or locate programs for their children.
Summary: At the end of your visit you will be given feedback regarding any areas of concern that the staff noted. A written report will be sent to your child's primary health care provider and to you on MyChart or in USPS mail.
If between visits you become concerned about any area of your child's development, we urge you to call us. If the problem can not be handled over the phone, we may request to see your child, or we may suggest an appointment with an outside specialist. Please use us as a resource for helping your child.