The Nemours Diagnostic Referral Service is a hospital-based general pediatric practice available for the evaluation and treatment of children, with an emphasis on difficult diagnoses and the coordination of services for children with multiple complex medical issues. The five specialists of this service see patients who are referred from primary care doctors, the Emergency Department, and other subspecialty areas. Because of their unique expertise, our diagnostic specialists are often able to provide an even deeper investigation into the cause of your child’s symptoms.
Your child’s referring doctor may request an outpatient visit or seek a consultation while your child is hospitalized. A Diagnostic Referral Service evaluation generally includes an initial detailed assessment, as well as laboratory and imaging studies, if necessary. All findings and recommendations will be communicated to your child’s primary care physician or referring doctor. If we feel your child would benefit from the expertise of additional Nemours subspecialists, we will make that referral as well.
Several of the doctors on this service have additional expertise in the care of children who are in the pre- and post-operative phases of liver transplants.
The Diagnostic Referral Service physicians’ care is enhanced by the use of an electronic medical record that allows all of your child’s caregivers to communicate in “real time.” This reduces redundancy in testing and other services and keeps all team members up to date on your child’s condition, progress, and medical management plan. At the same time, it allows your child’s doctors to consider best practices gained from Nemours experience and academic literature.