Who Can Provide Follow-up Services?
Pediatricians may incorporate developmental follow-up into their routine well-child care. Administration of a brief screening instrument requires an additional 10 – 15 minutes of examination time. More time is required for children who do not pass an initial screening. Coordination of additional tests, specialty services, and therapies, is necessary when delays or impairments are identified. Many physicians find it difficult to provide comprehensive screening, particularly with the currently increasing time demands required by third party payers. When problems are identified on initial screening, pediatricians may choose to refer the family elsewhere for further evaluation and follow-up. The family may be referred to a local early intervention program, a child development clinic, or to a specialized follow-up program for high-risk children. High-risk follow-up programs, where they are available, are specifically designed to monitor the development of children who are at increased risk
