Comprehensive Cerebral Palsy Program
Providing Holistic Care for Children, Adolescents and Adults With Cerebral Palsy
Cerebral Palsy Program
The Comprehensive Cerebral Palsy Program at Nationwide Children’s Hospital is an interdisciplinary clinic devoted to providing state of the art holistic care for children, adolescents and adults with cerebral palsy.
The CP Program emphasizes excellence in clinical care while focusing on translational research to improve outcomes for children and adults with CP.
Interdisciplinary Team Clinic
The cornerstone of our program is the Interdisciplinary Team Clinic. Your family will see a variety of specialists in a single clinic visit. These include Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics; Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation; Orthopedics; Nursing; Physical, Occupational, and Speech Therapy; Nutrition; and Social Work. Testing, such as X-rays or lab work, is available as needed. Your family will also be linked with medical, educational, social and financial resources in the community as needed.
During your clinic visit, the team collaborates with the parent and begins the process of constructing a family-centered patient care plan. Nursing and Social Work care coordinators complete the care plans and send to your family, PCP and other relevant agencies. The evidence-based care plan is available electronically and is a road map for future care planning that improves communication and “paints a picture” of the whole patient.
Within two weeks after the visit, the team will provide a referral summary/care plan for the family, primary care physician and/or referral source. The summary includes each provider’s recommendations and goals; who will do it and how it will be done; and expected outcomes.
The Comprehensive Cerebral Palsy Program accepts patients regardless of source of payment.Our Clinics
For your family's convenience, the Cerebral Palsy Program provides several clinic options to meet your child’s specific needs:
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Orthopedic Center
479 Parsons Ave
Columbus, OH 43215
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Tuesdays, 8 a.m.-5 p.m., and Thursdays, 12:30-5 p.m., Interdisciplinary CP team clinic for children
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One Monday per month, 8 a.m.-noon, Interdisciplinary CP team clinic for adults 22 years and older.
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One Friday per month, the CP “Main” Clinic evaluates children for CP or other motor problems, and to link families to resources while awaiting an appointment in the Team clinic. This clinic is staffed by the Neurodevelopmental Pediatrician, Nursing, Social Work and Physical Therapy.
Nationwide Children’s Hospital Main Campus
T1A Clinic
700 Children's Drive
Columbus, OH 43205
Appointments Outside These Clinics
Patients already established with the CP program can be seen for urgent or routine visits as needed. We encourage all patients to maintain a close relationship with their Primary Care Physician and would refer all non-CP related questions back to the PCP. Issues felt to be related to the CP can be addressed through visits with the specific team member as needed. Ongoing care coordination is provided throughout the year as needed. A care coordinator can be reached by calling (614) 722-5136.
Transitioning Care
As our pediatric patients grow into adulthood, The Comprehensive Cerebral Palsy Program works with families to help patients develop the skills needed to become informed, independent, healthy adults. These discussions begin as patients enter adolescence, and at age 22, we begin seeing patients in the Adult Cerebral Palsy Team clinic to continue interdisciplinary specialty care.
We continue to communicate by way of the interdisciplinary care plan with adult PCPs. Patients should continue to maintain their own primary care providers for care not related to CP. Our team can help families identify primary care doctors for adults and other specialists as needed, including community resources for housing, activities and vocational counseling.
