PEDIATRIC DIAGNOSTIC REFERRAL SERVICE

The Pediatric Diagnostic Referral Service (DRS) is designed to provide in-depth consultation for children with difficult-to-diagnose illnesses and conditions. The DRS consulting physician assists your child’s primary care physician in assessing and managing medical conditions that benefit from a team approach.

The DRS consulting physician will review previous records and evaluations, meet with your child and family members, assess the medical condition, initiate appropriate diagnostic testing, and make recommendations for further evaluations and pediatric subspecialty referrals if necessary. All findings, recommendations, and follow-up plans will be communicated to you and your child, as appropriate, and a written summary will be sent to your child’s referring primary care physician.

Joann Alfonzo, MD, directs the Pediatric Diagnostic Referral Service. Dr. Alfonzo is a board-certified pediatrician with more than 25 years of experience in managing children with complex care needs. Dr. Alfonzo also practices as a special needs primary care pediatrician at Children’s Specialized Hospital.

89 French Street,
New Brunswick, NJ 08901-1935

For Appointments: 732-235-7777

To fax your child’s medical records: 551-310-6803

Director

Joann Alfonzo, MD

BEFORE YOUR CHILD’S APPOINTMENT

When contacting us for an initial appointment, you may be asked some questions regarding your child’s condition—for example:

• What are some of the symptoms your child is experiencing?
• How long have those symptoms been present?
• Has your child seen any specialists?
• Who is the referring physician, or are you self-referred?

We also will obtain information regarding your child’s health insurance coverage.

Before making an appointment, we may ask that a brief summary be provided by your child’s referring physician. In addition, before your child’s appointment date, we ask that a copy of your child’s medical records, including any previous laboratory, imaging and subspecialty evaluations, be faxed to the Center. Once this information is received, the physician will review the available records and you will be contacted to schedule an appointment.

DURING YOUR VISIT

During the appointment, our consulting physician will ask in-depth questions about your child’s condition, perform a physical examination of your child, and determine the need for further testing and referral to other specialists. There will be adequate time provided to answer all questions.

Our staff will help arrange any necessary specialty consultations, and our consulting physician will communicate all findings and recommendations to your referring physician.