Pediatrics

Children need care from knowledgeable providers who can earn their trust. We provide pediatric care in a wide range of medical specialties, all designed to meet your child's medical and emotional needs. Our providers are board-certified in their fields and receive special training in treating infants, children and adolescents.

Some of our services — many of which are offered at Mission Children's Hospital — include:

• Pediatric audiology
• Pediatric diabetes and endocrinology
• Pediatric intensive care units (PICU)
• Pediatric neurology
• Pediatric psychiatry
• Pediatric sleep medicine
• Pediatric surgery

We provide primary pediatric care, and many of our locations are accepting new patients. Our specialists offer high-quality medical care throughout your child's life — from infancy through college age. Our pediatric practitioners are also part of our larger network, and your child's pediatrician can provide referrals to a wide spectrum of medical disciplines, including programs for childhood diabetes, as well as nutrition and weight management.

We have the region's only Level III NICU where we treat infants born ill or prematurely. Providing gentle 24/7 attention, our experienced multidisciplinary team ensures your baby gets the care they need when they need it. Once your baby is home, our developmental follow-up care program — part of our rehabilitation services — monitors their growth and milestones.

Our team of professionals is the only provider of pediatric oncology in the region. Comprised of board-certified hematologist-oncologists, pediatric nurses, pharmacists and social workers, this program is designed to treat your child while supporting your whole family. Thanks to comprehensive in-hospital departments, including an on-site laboratory, imaging services, pharmacy and infusion center, they can get the care they need.

If your child suffers from a congenital or acquired cardiovascular disorder, our pediatric cardiologists have the expertise to help them. Just like our adult heart care program, but with a child-friendly approach, our hospitals offer access to advanced medical treatments and technologies. Our comprehensive program includes building a personalized treatment plan with a focus on the prevention of further issues while managing and potentially healing their cardiac disease.

The life of an active, happy child can include some risk-taking. Our pediatric emergency room (ER) is here for them when accidents or illnesses happen and your child needs excellent care right now. Our kid-friendly environment and pediatric emergency providers work hard to help your child while making them feel safe and cared for.

Our pediatric gastrointestinal (GI) team provides diagnoses and treatments for a wide range of conditions, including feeding disorders, acid reflux, food allergies and celiac disease. Our gastroenterologists work collaboratively with other related specialists, including occupational therapists and speech-language pathologists, feeding experts and dietitians.

Our pediatric orthopedists understand how a child's body differs from an adult's and how ensuring proper development impacts their care. If your child needs treatment for a condition of the musculoskeletal system, we provide nonsurgical, minimally invasive and traditional surgical care.

Our respiratory specialists offer kid-friendly care for children with acute and chronic lung conditions. We have a clinic for children with cystic fibrosis as well as an asthma management program. Our care team also collaborates with our sleep medicine team on breathing problems impacting your child's sleep, such as sleep apnea or chronic fatigue.

Our pediatric rehabilitation program — called Huff Center Therapies — provides ongoing occupational, physical and speech therapies for kids. If your child has just left the NICU or PICU, or if you think they might have a developmental delay, our therapists will create a comprehensive plan to ensure we meet all of their needs. Our center also includes a feeding and swallowing program for children having difficulty eating.

In addition to our superb pediatric treatment programs, our network provides services that support the safety and comfort of your child. We take the care of your child very seriously and are honored to be a support for your entire family.

Certified Child Life Specialists

A visit to the hospital is stressful for anyone, especially for a child and their family. Our network provides specialized emotional support from Certified Child Life Specialists. This essential service is designed to help your child adjust by having someone who can answer their questions and ease their fears. An essential part of your care team, Child Life Specialists work with your family to find helpful resources and guide all of you through treatment.

Child abuse prevention and treatment

Helping children from birth to 21 years old, our child abuse specialists provide medical and social care if they are expected victims of abuse. This program is part of a statewide network of providers, serving children in more than 20 counties. Our staff receives advanced training to provide child abuse evaluations, and we collaborate with community law enforcement and other social service providers.

Infant and child security

To keep children safe and secure while in our facilities, we require all visitors — including parents and family — to have a visitor pass before they can enter these units:

• Labor and delivery
• Mother-baby
• NICU
• Pediatrics
• PICU

Pediatric sedation

If your child needs to undergo a noninvasive procedure or testing, we can provide sedation services to help them stay calm. Administered by our sedation team, this pain management tool keeps your child in a sleepy state while they still breathe on their own. During the procedure, they will also be able to respond to voice and touch, and their care team closely monitors their heart rate, breathing and blood pressure.