Your Visit to the Infectious Diseases Clinic

Your primary care physician must call with a referral before we can arrange an appointment. To schedule, change, or cancel an appointment, call (615) 322-2250. Because our time and space is very limited, we respectfully ask you to notify us of any appointment cancellations at least 24 hours in advance. This helps us adjust our schedule to accommodate other patients.

If you are running late, call to notify us of your delay. If you need to change your appointment, please let us know as soon as possible.

Our exam rooms are designated for one or two family members. We respectfully ask that anyone else who accompanies you remain in the waiting area.

Please bring the following information about your child with you,

• Insurance card
• Temperature log, if being seen for fever of unknown origin
• Any relevant radiology films not done at Vanderbilt University Medical Center, such as X-rays, MRIs, CT scans
• Immunization history
• Medical history

Please come prepared to thoroughly discuss your child's health and medical history, social history, and information about travel and illness history.

Bring any follow-up information we may request to return visits.

If your child is acutely ill and in need of IV antibiotics or additional diagnostic tests, he or she may be admitted to the hospital.

There are three ways patients may be admitted to the Pediatric Infectious Disease service: through our clinic, through the emergency department, or from Vanderbilt's Pediatric Acute Care Clinic.

Generally, there are no special restrictions for patients unless they have a highly contagious disease, such as tuberculosis or chicken pox. These patients are placed in an isolated, restricted area, and may be asked to wear a mask.

We collaborate with various pediatric specialists as needed. Therefore, other services may see your child based on the reason for hospitalization.

Discharge planning for patients is done in collaboration with attending physicians, the clinical nurse specialists and case manager, and the social worker.

Issues covered in the discharge plan include home health for infusion of IV antibiotics, referral for outpatient physical or occupational therapy, and referral to services that assist families with special needs, such as the Tennessee Early Intervention System.

Please call the Clinical Nurse Specialist at (615) 322-2250 for laboratory and test results, or for answers to any questions or concerns (including prescriptions).

The attending physician will contact your primary care physician with a detailed, written account of your visit. There also may be a follow-up telephone call.

Please see the Contact Information section for additional instructions about communicating with our healthcare team.