OUR SERVICES
WHEN YOU CALL TO MAKE AN APPOINTMENT, OUR OFFICE COORDINATOR WILL GATHER SOME INFORMATION TO HELP DECIDE WHICH TYPE OF APPOINTMENT IS BEST SUITED FOR YOUR CHILD'S CONCERNS. WE OFFER DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATIONS, MEDICATION MANAGEMENT, BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT SESSIONS, AND ONGOING CARE OF DEVELOPMENTAL-BEHAVIORAL CHALLENGES.
If you would like more detail about what to expect during a visit to our office, continue reading below.
Diagnostic Evaluations
Diagnostic evaluations are best suited to the child who is having ongoing struggles with development or behavior, and you are not yet sure why these struggles are present. These evaluations are usually completed over two visits. At the end of this process, you will have an understanding of the child’s diagnosis and how to move forward with a plan in place.
Intake
Prior to the initial appointment, parents and caregivers will spend time filling out forms online and sending in information about the child. This pre-evaluation intake process is very important. It allows us to have an accurate and complete picture of your child's issues before you even walk in the door of the office. This maximizes the value of your face-to-face time with the doctor and ultimately helps to lower your out-of-pocket costs.
Initial Appointment (90-120 minutes)
At this appointment, parents will have the opportunity to describe the child’s strengths and challenges. The doctor will collect additional details about the child, such as health habits, family history, school performance, current or previous medications tried. The doctor interacts with the child - through talking, play, writing/drawing. The doctor may administer some developmental testing and completes a physical exam. The doctor may meet with parents privately for a few minutes if requested by parents. A follow-up visit is scheduled to review testing results and make diagnoses and treatment recommendations.
Wrap Up Conference (45-60 minutes)
At this visit, the results of all the testing will be reviewed in detail. We will very likely be making medical diagnoses, which will describe your child’s developmental and behavioral challenges. This is not to place a label on your child but is meant to help you and others working with your child to understand your child’s challenges. A diagnosis often is the first step to a successful path forward in school and life. It allows you to start researching the problem more effectively and finding solid evidence-based solutions and supports for the problem. You will leave with a comprehensive written report that you can share with teachers, doctors, and therapists.
Follow up care
After your initial appointments are over, it is natural to have new questions. This is an important time for you to stay in touch with our office. You have invested time and finances into understanding your child's challenges. Now it is time to get the help and support you need in the community to address these issues. There may be recommendations to see a therapist, contact a state or local agency, apply for aide/scholarships, or get an IEP. This process can seem overwhelming at times. We will listen, guide you, and try to help you get support in place.
Ongoing Care for Developmental or Behavioral Challenges
This type of appointment is suited to the child who has an established diagnosis and is in need of ongoing care for their condition.
At this appointment parents will have the opportunity to describe the child’s strengths and challenges. The doctor will collect additional details about the child, such as health habits, family history, school performance, current or previous medications tried. The doctor completes a physical exam and may meet with parents privately if requested by parents. A holistic treatment plan is discussed at the end of the visit. This plan may include recommendations for medication, school supports, therapy, skill-building interventions such as relaxation, imagery, or social skills groups.
We will see your child in follow up care frequently until everyone feels comfortable that we are doing everything possible to support your child's needs. If our office is managing your child's medication for a condition, we will want to see them in the office at a minimum of every six months. We want ensure that they are growing well and not having side effects. We want to get feedback from teachers and other caregivers to ensure that the medication is working well in all settings. You will be asked to fill out some online forms before the appointment, and to have teachers or other caregivers fill out forms.
Behavior Management
Parenting is both a joy and a challenge. There are many common childhood behavior problems that can be treated successfully by a developmental-behavioral pediatrician. Common problems such as sleep refusal, tantrums, defiance, anger outbursts, and toileting issues can be treated in our office. Dr. Zimmer will meet with you weekly, either via telehealth or in person, to understand the problem and work on successive goals to get the behavior under control.
DIAGNOSTIC EVALUATIONS
USUALLY TWO APPOINTMENTS
FIRST APPT: 90-120 MINUTES
DR. REVIEWS RECORDS AND GENERATES REPORT
WRAP UP CONFERENCE: 45-60 MINUTES TO REVEIW RESULTS AND DEVELOP A PLAN
MEDICATION CONSULTATIONS
INITIAL CONSULTATION: 60-90 MINUTES
DR. EVALUATES AND RECOMMENDS TREATMENT
FOLLOW UP MEDICATION CHECKS: 30-60 MINUTES
EMAIL AND PHONE SUPPORT
DR. ENCOURAGES FREQUENT CONTACT WITH PATIENTS TO GET OPTIMAL RESULTS
BEHAVIOR MANAGEMENT
FAMILY SESSIONS
PROBLEM SOLVING FOCUSED
POSITIVE PARENTING SOLUTIONS
TANTRUMS
SLEEP
REFUSAL BEHAVIORS
ANGER
PARENTING STYLE DIFFERENCES