Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Diagnostic Evaluation Clinic

What is a Diagnostic & Evaluation (D&E) Clinic?

Diagnostic & Evaluation (D&E) Clinics were started over 20 years ago.  The purpose or intent of the clinics is to provide diagnostic medical evaluation for children, with Medicaid or CHP+, suspected of having developmental delays or disabilities around the state of Colorado.

The establishment of the D&E Clinics throughout the state allows families to access services within their own community.

D&E Clinics provide multidisciplinary evaluations that combine the expertise of a developmental pediatrician with speech language pathologist, physical therapists, occupational therapists, social workers, psychologist, service coordinators parent advocates and/or nursing staff.

What is the mission of the D&E Clinic?

The mission of the D&E Clinic program is to identify and evaluate children, birth to 21 years, to delineate any medical conditions that may be contributing to developmental delay or disability.

Who is eligible for a D&E Clinic?

Referrals, appropriate for a D&E, are typically children who are suspected of having neurodevelopmental delays of a significant amount in two or more areas.  Some examples follow:

1.     A child with multiple health concerns causing disabling conditions of any kind.

2.     Any child who is at risk for neurodevelopmental delays because of his/her environmental situation or past history of family difficulties or associated   medical problems.

3.     Children with cognitive delays, who have ongoing medical problems and for whom the therapeutic interventions being attempted are failing.

4.     Any child who is exceptionally small or growing poorly, particularly children identified as Failure To Thrive.

5.     A child with neurodevelopmental delays who has been previously diagnosed but with whom new developmental problems have arisen may be a candidate.

6.     Children who present a picture as being medically puzzling, showing a significant lack of progress, or a deterioration of condition.

Who can refer a child to a D&E Clinic?

Referrals may come from any community sources: primary care providers such as physicians, well-child clinics, Part C service coordinators, Child Find Personnel, health maintenance organizations or nurses.  They may also come from school personnel, parents, parent advocates and public or private agencies.  Please call or Email us if you have any questions.