Referrals and Scheduling

For Parents

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition at Nationwide Children's Hospital requires a referral from your child's primary care physician or specialist to ensure they are seen by the appropriate member of our team and facilitate a smooth transition of care. This means that we cannot accept patient self-referrals. 

Steps you can take to ensure a smooth transition of care:

1. Check with your referring physician to make sure they have sent your child's medical records prior to your first appointment at Nationwide Children's. If these have not been sent, ask for a copy of your child's medical records and bring them with you to your first appointment.
2. For many insurance companies, a pre-authorization is needed in order for your child to be seen by a subspecialist. If you are from out of state, this is a requirement. This may require medical information from your child's primary care physician or pediatrician along with authorization. Remember to bring your insurance card to your child's appointment.
3. Bring all of your child's medications to your first appointment.
4. Copays are collected at the time of your visit. Please note that we only accept checks and credit cards. We are unable to accept cash payments.
5. Patients under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. While this is not mandatory for patients over the age of 18, we encourage participation of parents and legal guardians.
6. If you are the patient's legal guardian, please bring your custody papers with you to your first appointment.
7. If the patient is in the custody of an agency, foster parents must acquire consent from the agency prior to your first appointment.

Motility Referrals

Our Motility Center requires a referral from your child's managing GI provider to ensure they are seen by the appropriate member of our team and facilitate a timely and most comprehensive evaluation. This means that we cannot accept patient self-referrals. Referring GI providers can contact the Motility Center by calling (614) 722-3456. Patient medical records can be faxed to (614) 722-3454.

Referring providers should include:

1. Summary letter
2. Insurance information
3. Patient demographics, including best contact numbers
4. Most recent height and weight including the date
5. Previous and current medication and allergy lists
6. Most recent office visit documentation
7. Reports of all previous testing, such as:

• Allergy, thyroid function, sweat chloride
• Imaging studies (barium enemas, upper GIs, KUBs, sitz markers, ultrasounds, MRIs, CT scans, gastric emptying, etc)
• Procedures (colonoscopy, manometry, endoscopy, ph probe, breath tests, etc.)
• Biopsy reports

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