Getting Ready Before Your Visit and What to Expect While You're Here
We know that your child may have seen many doctors without receiving a diagnosis.
At the PIDC at UPMC Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh, we ensure each new patient sees every doctor they need to see.
Based on how many doctors your child needs to see, your visit may last one or two days. Our care coordinator will carefully plan your visit, so you'll know how long to expect to be here.
Before Your Visit to the PIDC
Before your child's visit, please send us your child's:
- Medical records.
- Lab test results.
- Imaging, such as x-rays.
- Pathology slides of tissue, instead of just the test results.
- Prior genetic testing and results, if any.
There likely won't be any restrictions on what your child can eat or drink before the appointment.
What to bring the day of your child's visit
Because this may be a long day for your child, feel free to bring some items that will comfort them like a:
- Favorite toy.
- Blanket or pillow.
- Book.
During Your Child's Visit
Your child's visit to the PIDC will start with a physical exam, much like your pediatrician's. We'll discuss your child's and your family's medical history.
You'll then see each immune disorder expert assigned to your child's care. Some doctors may ask you the same questions, but be sure to give as thorough an answer as you can each time.
If your child needs blood work and it is covered by your insurance, we'll draw blood and send it to the lab for testing. We may also need to run more advanced tests.
Based on your child's health history, we might suspect a certain immune disorder. If so, we may have an initial treatment plan before you leave the office.
To create a complete treatment plan, we might need to wait for test results. We'll share this with you during your child's follow-up visit.
After Your Visit to the PIDC
Once we have the results from any tests from your child's visit, we'll schedule an in-person or virtual follow-up appointment.
Since getting your child's test results can often be stressful, you may want to plan to bring a list of questions. You may also want to take notes during the visit.
At this follow-up visit, we will:
- Discuss the results and what they mean for your child's health.
- Explain your child's treatment options.
- Decide which treatment is the best fit for your child and your family.
- Answer your questions about your child's immune disease and treatment.
- Plan for the next steps of treatment.
After careful review of your child's case, we'll send you a summary letter of our expert team's assessment and recommendations.
