Down Syndrome Outpatient Service
MeritCare Children's Hospital offers a multidisciplinary outpatient service to help accommodate the special medical developmental, behavioral, family and community needs of patients with Down syndrome.
Down syndrome statistics
- Approximately 50 percent of children with Down syndrome have congenital heart disease
- Up to 80 percent have, at some time, conductive hearing loss. Approximately 60% of these individuals demonstrate hearing loss in both ears
- Individuals with Down syndrome are 14 times more likely to develop thyroid disorders than the general population
- Many infants with Down syndrome have difficulty gaining weight, while older children and adults with Down syndrome tend to develop obesity
- Even on normal diet, most individuals with Down syndrome develop nutritional deficiencies
- Many individuals with Down syndrome need special anesthesia management for general anesthesia
- Fifty percent have eye problems, including cataracts and loss of visual acuity.
- Approximately 15 percent have instability of the neck (atlantoaxial instability), and are at risk for serious injuries of the neck and spine
- Many develop under airway obstruction, which may produce speech difficulties, sleep disturbances and even heart problems
- Many individuals with Down syndrome develop behavioral problems which interfere with learning, social and emotional development
The team approach
Patients with Down syndrome and their families are seen by a variety of specialists, all with special interests in Down syndrome, brought together in one location, to provide coordinated and integrated assessments and treatment plans. As a result, separate appointments at different times and even different days are not necessary.
An individualized program
At the completion of the health care assessment, the team of specialists meets to develop a treatment plan to specifically address each patient's special needs. Educational, therapy and agency representatives are invited to attend and contribute.
This outpatient program supplements, but does not replace any part of the vital care provided by the family's personal physician. A comprehensive report is provided to the referring physician.
The team of specialists
- Nurse coordinator
- Pediatrician
- Pediatric cardiology
- Pediatric endocrinology
- Pediatric neurology
- Pediatric orthopaedics
- Pediatric hematology/oncology
- Genetics
- Pediatric rehabilitation and physical medicine
- Pediatric nutrition
- Speech and language pathology
- Ear, nose and throat
- Ophthalmology
- Pediatric occupational therapy
- Physical therapy
- Education
- Recreational therapy
- Social services
A comprehensive evaluation
- Comprehensive history, including medical, social, developmental, behavior and educational issues and problems
- Complete physical exam, including appropriate laboratory screening
- Developmental, speech and language, social and educational assessments
- Nutritional assessment and recommendations
- Family and social assessment and assistance
- Vision and hearing assessments
Availability of the Down Syndrome Outpatient Program
The Down Syndrome Outpatient Service is offered monthly in the Coordinated Treatment Center at the MeritCare Broadway Health Center, 736 Broadway, Fargo, N.D.
The evaluation takes five to six hours, depending on the number of specialists the individual needs to see. Appointments are necessary. Community agency representatives who currently provide service to the individual are encouraged to attend. The MeritCare Down Syndrome Outpatient Program follows the health care guidelines for individuals with Down syndrome, made available by the Down Syndrome Medical Interest Group, a national organization of medical personnel interested in the health and welfare of persons with Down syndrome.
For more information
For an appointment or for more information, please call the Coordinated Treatment Center at (701) 234-6600 or (800) 828-2901 (9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Monday through Friday, except holidays).
MeritCare Children's Hospital
The Down Syndrome Outpatient Service is a program of the MeritCare Children's Hospital, a specialty hospital located within the MeritCare Medical Center. The MeritCare Children's Hospital is designed for the diagnosis, treatment and care of infants, children and adolescents. Dedicated to children's health, this 58 bed medical and surgical facility is a designated children's hospital and a member of the National Association of Children's Hospitals Related Institutions. It is a principal pediatric referral center for the tri-state area.