About your visit
Thank you for choosing the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Our division offers world-class, comprehensive care from a multidisciplinary team of physicians, nurses and other clinical professionals. We partner with patients, families and referring physicians to provide coordinated family-centered care.
In addition to general gastroenterology, hepatology and nutrition, we provide outpatient, procedural and inpatient care in several centers of excellence, detailed elsewhere on this website.
This page will help you better prepare for your child’s first visit and give you information about what to expect. Use the links below to take you directly to the information you need.
- Before your child's visit: How to prepare your child, what to expect, insurance and referrals
- The day of your child's visit: What to bring, how to get here, when you arrive, who you'll meet
- Your child's examination: Physical exam, discussion of symptoms, medical history and more
- After your child's first visit: Additional testing
- Contact us: For questions and scheduling
We are committed to our patients and families and will work hard to ensure your experience with us is a positive one.
Before your child's visit
Before you even leave your home, we offer resources to introduce you to The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and to help you prepare for your visit. Use this section to learn what you need to know ahead of time.
How to prepare your child
Healthcare experiences can be very stressful for children of all ages. Preparing children ahead of time for the things they may experience during their healthcare visit will reduce much of their anxiety, as well as help them cope.
Providing your child with honest, accurate information will help to alleviate many of his/her fears and fantasies about what will happen. We offer some tips to help you prepare your child.
What to expect
Before your appointment, you may be contacted by mail or phone to obtain basic information designed to shorten your waiting time during your visit. If you receive a preregistration form by mail, please complete and return it as soon as possible, using the envelope provided.
Insurance and referrals
Please arrive with insurance cards and any referral forms required by your insurance company. If your insurance provider requires you to present an authorizing letter, please bring this with you as well. If you are unsure of exactly what will be required, please call your insurance company before your appointment. For more details, see financial matters.
The day of your child's visit
Being prepared for your first visit at the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition at CHOP will ensure a smooth check-in and prevent unnecessary delays.
What to bring
Please make sure you bring the following to your first appointment:
- A completed copy of our new patient visit form.
See Patient Forms for more information or download the form. - Referral paperwork. This must be in place at the time of the visit or your visit may be delayed or rescheduled.
- Any authorization your insurance company may require. You should call your insurance company to get this information.
- Co-pay or co-insurance for the visit. If you have any questions, please call 1-800-664-7855.
- The name and phone number of your pharmacy.
- Copies of documentation for labs, radiology and procedure tests — even if the results are normal.
- A copy of your child’s recent growth chart (if available).
- A parent or legal guardian must be present for the first consultation. If you are a legal guardian, please bring proof of guardianship.
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Please bring all of the medications your child currently takes — including over-the-counter medications – in a bag. If you’d prefer to write a list of medications, we will need the medicine name, dosage, frequency, prescribing doctor, pharmacy name and phone number, as well as how long your child has been using this medication. Most families find it easier to toss everything in a bag and bring it along!
If you need to cancel your appointment, please give us 72 hours notice. Another family will be grateful for your time. Please call 215-590-3630.
Getting here and directions
The Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition offers outpatient appointments at nine locations in Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including our divisions' outpatient area on the third floor of the Wood Building at CHOP's main campus.
For patients who have appointments in the Wood Building, the links below will help you get here.
- General driving directions to Children’s Hospital
- Parking information at Main Campus
- Public transportation to CHOP’s Main Campus
- Main Campus maps are also available. View our Main Campus map or third floor of Wood center map
Patients traveling to one of CHOP's outpatient centers, can use the links below for location addresses and directions.
Pennsylvania
New Jersey
When you arrive
When you arrive for your first visit, you will register your child with the front desk. Please arrive 30 minutes prior to your scheduled appointment so Hospital staff can review all of your paperwork and ask any additional questions.
If you arrive late, you risk being seen later or having your appointment rescheduled. Please call us at 215-590-3630 if you are running late. If you need to cancel your appointment, please give us 72 hours notice. Another family will be grateful for your time.
We encourage you to bring toys, books and/or snacks to keep your child or children occupied and content while waiting. Fasting is not required for the patient’s first visit.
Who you’ll meet
All of the healthcare professionals and employees at The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia are dedicated to providing the best care to your child and your family, and to making your experience with us as comfortable as possible.
For a list of some of the people you might meet and information about the role they play as part of the healthcare team, see your healthcare team. For a list of team members of the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology & Nutrition and links to their bios, see meet our team.
Your child's examination
When your child’s name is called, you and your child will be escorted to an examination room. In this private area, we will take your child’s vital signs such as temperature, blood pressure, weight and height. We will also review your child's medications and allergies. Please remember to bring any prescriptions or over-the-counter medications your child is taking.
Our clinical team will review the new patient form with you and your child and take a full medical history. This will include your child’s allergies and medications, as well as any family history of illness.
Your first visit may last approximately 40-60 minutes and will include a physical exam, a review of your child's medical history, what brings you to the visit and a discussion of possible next steps. Diagnostic labs may be ordered but are unlikely to be conducted the same day.
You will have the opportunity during this initial patient visit to discuss your child’s symptoms and ask questions. Please jot down any questions or comments you’d like to share. This can ensure you get as much information as you need now. There will be additional opportunities at future visits to ask follow up questions.
Download and print our Things I don't want to forget card or view our tools for families for other useful information.
At the end of your child's visit, you will receive a visit summary form that details next steps and instructions for your child's care. A copy of a summary report will be sent to the physician who referred your child so we can ensure your child's care plan is well coordinated and communicated.
After your child's first visit
Many initial visits result in additional testing to establish or confirm your child's diagnosis. For this reason, we ask parents to bring your calendar with you so we can schedule further testing if needed.
Scheduling diagnostic and testing services
For your convenience, Children's Hospital provides a full range of services, such as X-ray, blood work and other testing services. Please check with your insurance plan to make sure that you are permitted to have testing performed here. In some cases, a referral form from your insurance company and/or a consultation with a Children's Hospital physician may be necessary.
Contact us
To schedule or change an appointment with the Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition, please call 215-590-3630. For other questions, call 267-426-2270.
Reviewed by: Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition team
Date: June 2012
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