Clinic Information
NEW Kids™ Clinic at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin is a team of health professionals to help improve the health of overweight children 2-18 years old with medical problems. NEW Kids Clinic believes most health problems can be improved or removed by changes in lifestyle habits. The NEW Kids clinic does not use one program for every family. Our treatment recommendations are matched to meets the needs of each family that comes to clinic. The health improvements for patients occur most successfully when changes are made for the whole family.
NEW Kids Clinic uses a health care team approach to help address every area of lifestyle that may be influencing the patient's current health.
- Doctors and Pediatric Nurse Practitioners will diagnose and monitor health problems.
- Dietitians will help you understand how different types of food & beverage choices influence your health and how you can improve choices to improve your health.
- Psychologists will help families in making lifestyle changes. Psychologists can offer additional counseling for teasing, self-esteem, and mood problems.
- Physical Therapists with help you move without pain and to prevent future injury.
You will meet with those members of the team that will help you and your family best. It is extremely important for all parents and caregivers to come to clinic appointments, especially the first one.
How to Start
The NEW Kids Clinic is for children with medical problems related to weight. If you or someone in your family is concerned about weight problems, see your primary care doctor. Your doctor will measure weight and height, and decide if more testing is needed. If he/she discovers a problem, like high cholesterol, insulin resistance, or high blood pressure, they will refer to the NEW Kids Clinic at CHW. A NEW Kids Team member will then contact your family.
First Visit
The first visit to NEW Kids Clinic is longer because it is our first opportunity to learn about the lifestyle of the patient and their family, and will take about 3 ½ hours. Your family will see a physician or nurse practitioner, a dietitian, a health psychologist, and a physical therapist. Initial goals are then set with your family.
Follow-up Visits
Return visits to clinic are usually every four weeks. Goals are reviewed and new goals are set. If there are problems in meeting goals, then the NEW Kids team will discuss this with your family. As healthy habits are developed, your family will return to clinic less often.
Success
As most children are still growing, weight loss is often not the goal of treatment. Maintaining weight, improving health, and learning life-long healthy habits are the primary goals.
Physicians and Medical Providers...
If you would like to refer a patient to the NEW Kids program, download the NEW Kids Referral Packet and follow the instructions.
If you have any questions, contact your doctor, or call the NEW Kids Program at (414) 266-6864.
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