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Welcome to a new section for patients and parents. We hope that you find this information helpful. We will be adding associated topics. Please email us with topic suggestions or any questions we may list in our FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) section.
PREPARING FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT to a PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGIST
Introduction
The diagnosis of a stature issue is extremely complex. It involves ruling out many medical issues before narrowing it down to the cause of your child’s problem.
This is not an easy task for your doctor. It may require several visits and many tests before they know the real cause of his/her growth failure. Please be patient as it is important that they follow this process to obtain an accurate diagnosis.
There are a number of resources available to help you understand the growth of your child; a favorite is a booklet called Growing Children a Parents Guide, written by Dr Louis Underwood. This booklet provides information on normal and abnormal growth and may help you determine the right questions to ask on your first visit. The booklet is available by contacting us.
PREPARING FOR YOUR FIRST VISIT to a PEDIATRIC ENDOCRINOLOGIST
It is extremely important to get copies, or have copies sent of any/all previous medical records including all height and weight measurements, x-rays and charts that you may have for your child. This information will form the basis of the history which will identify patterns in your child’s growth. You will find links to growth charts on the MAGIC home page as well as instructions on completing the chart. (Click here to go directly to this section). It is a good idea to get familiar with this information before going to the doctor. If you would like us to walk you through it so that you understand it- just call! We are here to help you!
The Physicians offices often have a list of documents that they require for your first visit. It is a good idea to check with them before your visit. Having everything (or as much as you can get) will help the physician and medical team understand your child’s complete health. For a sample list of what information they may require, scroll to the bottom of this page.
In preparation for your appointment
• Gather all copies of your child’s medical records- if you have been reading through them, please make sure they are returned in proper date order (with the most recent date on top and the oldest on the bottom of the file).
• Be prepared for the physician to keep the medical records/copies you bring. Many MAGIC members keep an additional / separate set of copies at home. It is a good precaution in the event that someone loses records, but not a requirement.
• Take your medical insurance information with you.
• Wherever possible both Mam and Dad should attend the first visit – if not available make sure that you have as much information as you can about the parent not attending.
• You should always leave your doctor’s office with a clear plan for your child which should include the next steps in the diagnostic process. It’s a good idea to write down the key points from your visit so that you can discuss or ask questions at a later date
• If there is something that you don’t understand after your visit we will be pleased to help you, don’t just sit home and worry, give us a call.
What to expect during the appointment(s)
1. Your child will be measured and weighed (this is done at every visit). The information will be plotted on his/her growth chart.
2. They will also measure and plot the height of both parents (self reported measurements have been shown to be inaccurate, with women underestimating and men overestimating their height); this will help them determine the target adult height of your child
3. A complete medical examination will be conducted to exclude any chronic illness that may be present, A number of other tests maybe ordered, these may include x-rays and blood work
4. This appointment may take quite a bit of time- please be prepared!
Remember, that your health care practitioner is your primary source of information and that the information that we provide is based on our personal experience only – we are not a substitute for medical care.
The information in this article is copywritten and legally protected against unauthorized reproduction or use of any or all content.
New Patient Information
Feel free to print this out, fill it out and take it with you to the physician’s office so that the information you provide to them is as accurate as possible.
New Patient Information
Full Name _____________________________
Address _____________________________
_____________________________
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Home Phone _______________
Cell Phone _______________
Work Phone _______________
Email address _______________
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Relationship |
Age |
Height |
Medical History |
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Mother |
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Mother's Mother |
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Mother's Father |
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Father |
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Father's Mother |
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Father's Father |
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Sibling 1 |
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Sibling 2 |
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Sibling 3 |
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Are there other family members not listed above that have a significant medical problem? If so please give details; _______________________________________________________________________________
Patients Birth History
Was the patient born at term preterm if so how many weeks _______
Was the patient delivered by vaginal or by c section
Were there any complications at birth if so please list __________________________________________
Was Mothers pregnancy normal? Yes No if no provide details ____________
Childs birth weight __________ Childs birth length ____________
Did the child feed well during infancy Yes No if no provide details
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Did the child gain weight normally in first six months Yes No ?
Please list any major illness the child has had, including any recurring diseases and there frequencies:
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___________________________________________________________________________________
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Has the child ever been in the hospital? Yes No If so please give details
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Does your child have any allergies either to medicines or another source? Yes No ?
List all allergies __________________________________________________________
Is the patient currently having issues with any of the following systems?
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System |
Y/N |
Detail |
Treatment |
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Weight (eating) |
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Height (growing) |
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Eyes |
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Ears |
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Stomach/Bowels/Vomiting |
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Mouth/Dental/Throat |
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Heart |
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Kidney/Urinary |
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Skin/Rashes/Allergies |
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Breathing |
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Immune System |
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Hormonal issues |
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Blood or bleeding disorders |
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Depression or Nervous disorders |
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Others not listed above |
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Is your child currently taking any prescription or over the counter medications?
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Drug |
Dose |
Frequency |
Date Started |
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LEGAL NOTE:The information in this article is copywritten and legally protected against unauthorized reproduction in any complete or partial form. No links to this document may be made without strict written permission of the Foundation and author. Privacy and enforcement of our authors, families and materials is taken very seriously. Failure to comply with the legal posting of this notice, will be met with legal action.
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