Quality and Outcomes Reports - Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition Center

Patient Impact

 

When Kyle (shown at age 12) was 10 years old, he was rushed to Children's Hospital to dislodge a piece of boneless chicken from his throat. After careful evaluation, doctors diagnosed Kyle with eosinophilic esophagitis, a condition that occurs when the esophagus becomes inflamed. In the two years since his diagnosis, Kyle has worked with a team of gastroenterologists, allergists and registered dietitians to identify and eliminate the food groups that aggravate his condition.

Clinic Volume - Subspecialties

Why we measure it - Since pediatric Gastroenterology problems are so diverse, the Gastroenterology Center has assembled several world-renowned pediatric experts to create unique subspecialty programs. This approach provides families with clinicians who have a focused expertise and interest in specific Gastroenterology diseases.

What this means - The large increase in volume is due to the opening of two new subspecialty clinics. In addition to providing general pediatric gastroenterology care, the Gastroenterology Center consists of subspecialty services and is one of the largest pediatric GI programs in the country. It has earned a national reputation for successfully diagnosing and treating complex disorders and is sought after for second opinions. Subspecialty programs include:

About the data - The graph reflects the number of patient visits in our billing system under each clinic category in years 2008-2011.

Related dimensions of care:

What we're doing to provide the best care:

  • Many of the center's gastroenterologists are listed in the 2009-2010 Best Doctors in America® database. The list represents the top 5 percent of the nation's practicing board-certified physicians.
  • The Gastroenterology Center is interdisciplinary and made up of many pediatric professionals, including gastroenterologists, nurse clinicians, nurse practitioners, dietitians, speech and language pathologists, psychologists, physical therapists, a family practice physician and research professionals.
  • Families traveling from long distances are encouraged to use our Family Accommodations Program to make travel arrangements and coordinate appointments. Children's Hospital has partnered with non-profit organizations like Ronald McDonald House and Kathy's House to offer comfortable, "home away from home" accommodations. Local hotel chains on our referral list also offer discounts for patient families. 
  • Currently there are 52 open research studies across the Gastroenterology Center, including industry-sponsored clinical trials, which provide treatment opportunities for patients.
  • The Gastroenterology Center trains future pediatric gastroenterologists and child psychologists through its accredited fellowship programs.

Patients and families:

  • Contact Central Scheduling to start your child's visit arrangements. Have the name, address and phone and fax numbers of your primary care and/or referring doctor available when you call.
  • Work with your child's referring physician and insurance company to determine if a referral or authorization is required for the visit.
  • Arrive 15 minutes before your scheduled appointment so we can gather needed information from you before you see the doctor.
  • Come prepared with any questions or concerns you may have. We find this helps ensure the visit meets your needs.
  • Bring a full list of the medications your child is taking including over-the-counter medicines such as vitamins and supplements.
  • Bring a couple of your child's favorite toys or books to help make him or her more comfortable during the visit.
  • To meet the requirements of your insurance, co-payments are collected at the time of the visit.

Referring physicians:

  • Referring physicians can access our specialists for consultation or transport 24 hours a day by calling our physician referral line at (800) 266-0366.
  • As appointments are scheduled, the Gastroenterology Center will contact you to arrange transfer of any pertinent patient documentation, including test results and growth charts. 
  • Please contact Deb Wallner, Gastroenterology nurse manager or Pamela Fraser, Gastroenterology program director with any questions or concerns about the GI Service. They may be reached at (414) 266-2971.
  • Health care providers from outside of our southeastern Wisconsin service area are encouraged to use our web-based
    e-Consult service. This service is available for non-urgent patient cases only and gives providers access to our specialists to review patient cases, obtain medical advice or second opinions, and receive care recommendations for rare symptoms and illnesses.
    e-Consult is not to be used by the general public, parents/guardians or families.
  • Care guidelines for medical professionals
  • Educational materials
  • Pocket Directory

If you have questions about this information, email us or call (414) 266-6556.