pediatric gastroenterology

A typical visit to the gastroenterology clinic involves discussing your child’s symptoms and medical history, a physical exam, a conversation about any test results and medication needs, and time to answer questions and address any specific concerns. Depending on their symptoms and diagnosis, some patients may be seen by a pediatric gastroenterologist or by a certified nurse practitioner who is specially trained to care for patients with common gastrointestinal conditions.

Your child’s provider can make a referral to the gastroenterology clinic, and we strive to see patients as soon as possible after receiving the referral. Please send relevant medical records, including growth charts and results of prior evaluations, to us with the referral so that we can provide the best care and avoid repeating studies. If your child’s provider sees an urgent need, the gastroenterology office can schedule next-day clinic appointments.

For your first visit to one of our outpatient clinics, we ask that you bring:

• A list of your child’s medication(s), dose and strength
• A CD of recent X-ray images, if not done at Dayton Children’s

Please arrive about 20 minutes early to complete registration forms. The amount of time of your actual appointment will vary depending on the information needed, the exam and the testing needed.

This appointment is for a consultation only. Different care team members will get to know your child and how they’re feeling. We will do a physical exam, and your child will likely have labs drawn after the appointment. We will not do any procedures. Other tests may need to be scheduled at a later date. Please prepare for about an hour with us for your first visit. It could be shorter or longer, depending on your child’s specific care needs.

After registration, one of our medical assistants or nurses will check your child’s height, weight and vital signs. They will also ask questions about how your child is doing. Once this is completed, your child’s physician or nurse practitioner will meet with you and your child to develop a plan of care.

Your child may need to have the following tests at their first appointment:

• Lab work (blood tests, stool tests, stool specimens)
• X-rays

Your child may need further testing by endoscopy or another procedure. If that is the case, our team of procedure nurses will help with scheduling, going over the procedure, reviewing the preparation instructions, and helping the physicians during the procedure itself. 

When patients are diagnosed with illnesses such as inflammatory bowel disease or celiac disease, our team provides one-on-one education to help them and their families learn about how to manage their condition at home. These educational sessions can be scheduled at your convenience.

In addition to the staff in our division, we also collaborate with our colleagues in pediatric surgery, pediatric ENT, allergy and immunology, psychology, radiology, pathology and more to provide the best care for your child.

The gastroenterology division includes specialized registered dietitians who focus on children with gastrointestinal, liver and nutritional disorders. They are available to meet with patients and families as needed to provide comprehensive nutrition assessments and recommendations. They have extensive experience in helping children with special needs to meet their growth and development potential.

Sometimes, children need to be admitted to the hospital for serious gastrointestinal problems such as complications of Crohn’s disease, dehydration, growth failure or severe abdominal pain. The staff at Dayton Children’s is highly trained to care for these patients. Learn about inpatient care.

If your child has symptoms like chronic belly pain, poor weight gain, feeding struggles, frequent reflux or irregular bowel movements, it’s time to schedule with a pediatric gastroenterologist.

Different care team members will get to know your child and how they’re feeling. We will do a physical exam, and your child will likely have labs drawn after the appointment. We will not do any procedures. Please prepare for about an hour with us. It could be shorter or longer, depending on your child’s specific care needs. 

Yes. We offer tools to identify food intolerances using clinical history, elimination diets and diagnostic testing when appropriate.

Most procedures, such as endoscopy or colonoscopy, are non-surgical. We will give you instructions to prepare for these procedures. For surgeries, we coordinate care with pediatric surgery team.

It depends on your insurance. Some plans require a referral from your child’s primary care provider. Contact our billing team if you’re unsure. We can help!