Care & Services

Children’s Clinics is a comprehensive medical home that offers southern Arizona’s families a unique environment to meet the health care needs of their children with more than 25 medical and dental specialty clinics, primary care, behavioral health, and therapy services under one roof. Located in the Square & Compass Building on the Tucson Medical Center (TMC) campus, Children’s Clinics is a nonprofit organization providing family-centered, comprehensive outpatient medical and therapy services in a comfortable and engaging atmosphere.

Children’s Clinics is accessible to the entire community, serving children from birth to young adulthood. In addition to general pediatrics, many of our children have complex medical conditions such as cerebral palsy, spina bifida, muscular dystrophy, cardiac conditions, cleft lip and palate, sickle cell, and metabolic disorders.

Primary Care

All children, from birth to young adulthood, are welcome at Children’s Clinics under the highly trained and experienced care of our primary care physicians.

Pediatrics

Internal Medicine

Specialty Care

Our specialty care providers are supported by a comprehensive team of professionals, including child life specialists, education specialists, medical social workers, RN care coordinators, and more.

Anesthesiology

Cardiology

Dental and Orthodontia

Developmental Pediatrics

Endocrinology

Ear, Nose, and Throat

Gastroenterology

Genetics

Hematology

Nephrology

Neurology

Neurosurgery

Ophthalmology

Optometry

Orthopedics

Pediatric Surgery

Physical Medicine

Plastic Surgery

Pulmonology

Urology

Wound Care

Behavioral Health

Children’s Clinics provides a range of outpatient services for children, adolescents, young adults and their families.

BCBA

LMSW/LCSW

Psychology

Neuropsychology

Child/Adolescent Psychiatry

Family Support Services

Rehabilitative Therapies

The Children’s Clinics Rehabilitative Department provides physical therapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, audiology, and nutrition services in an integrated care setting.

Aquatic Therapy

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Audiology

Children’s Clinics audiologists specialize in the assessment of hearing ability in infants, children, and teens. When needed, they select, customize, and fit state-of-the-art hearing aids.

They teach the child and family how to care for and use hearing aids to achieve the greatest benefit. They provide ongoing hearing aid and ear mold support and services. The Children’s Clinics audiologist also play an integral role on the cochlear implant team by determining eligibility and providing post-implantation care for kids with cochlear implants.

Audiology Services:

Auditory Brainstem Response (ABR) Evaluation
Diagnostic audiology
Hearing aid dispensing
Evaluation for Cochlear Implant
Repair and programming of hearing aids
Cochlear implant mapping

Feeding Therapy

The Cleft Care team meets monthly to review records of children at various age milestones to determine where the child is on the clinical care path outlined in Cleft Lip and Palate Guidelines. After the review referrals are made to specialty clinics needed to remain current with treatment and a report is sent to the parent/guardian and primary care physician.

Team Members Include:

Nutrition

Children’s Clinics’ Registered Dietitian Nutritionists (RDNs) specialize in Medical Nutrition Therapy for children with complex medical needs and have advanced education degrees/certifications.

They are highly regarded in the community for their expertise and experience in treating patients with weight and feeding concerns, food allergies, digestive issues, abnormal nutrition-related lab work, enteral tube feeding including home blended tube meals, and encourage all patients to consume a well-balanced, high-quality diet.

Our RDNs are an integral part of the multidisciplinary and specialty clinics including Cerebral Palsy, Muscular Dystrophy and other Neuromuscular Disorders, Spina Bifida, Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Cleft Lip and Palate, Osteogenesis Imperfecta, Spinal Cord Injury, Feeding, Down Syndrome, Autism Spectrum Disorder and Endocrinology.

They work closely with community pediatricians to ensure optimal growth and nutrition outcomes for their patients. Our RDNs are skilled at incorporating cultural and family eating preference in treatment planning. They collaborate with many community agencies such as The University of Arizona, Arizona Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (ArizonaLEND), Mealtime Connections, Nourish, local hospitals, home health agencies, schools, Tucson Tubies Facebook group and other community and professional education projects.

Occupational Therapy

Children’s Clinics occupational therapists help child stay engaged in activities that give them pleasure or a sense of purpose. These activities may include play, dressing, bathing, hand writing, visual perception, feeding, and fine motor skills. Occupational therapists work with children to develop the skills to be as independent as possible with activities of daily living.

Occupational Therapy Services:

Evaluation and treatment of fine motor, sensory processing, visual perception, and self-care skills
Fabrication of custom hand and arm splints
Evaluation for adaptive seating and wheelchairs
Evaluation and treatment for feeding difficulties

Physical Therapy

Physical therapists at Children’s Clinics work to improve the strength, flexibility, coordination, endurance, and balance in order to optimize movement and improve function in patients with neuromuscular, orthopedic, and developmental conditions. Physical therapists help patients return to their prior level of functioning after an injury or surgery, or to develop age-appropriate gross motor skills, such as rolling, crawling, standing, walking, and running.

Physical Therapy Services:

Evaluation and treatment of gross motor development
Assessment for adaptive equipment
Assessment for lower extremity orthotics (bracing)
Evaluation for adaptive seating and wheelchair
Therapeutic intervention for the management of spasticity, including serial casting and post-Botox therapy

Speech & Language Therapy

Children’s Clinics’ speech-language pathologists evaluate the ability to understand and use language for learning and socialization. They provide therapy to improve oral speech and language, or to develop alternative communication methods if speech is not possible. Speech-Language Therapists also assess and treat problems related to voice, eating, and swallowing.

Speech Therapy Services:

Evaluation and treatment of expressive and receptive language
Evaluation and treatment of feeding difficulties
Augmentative/Alternative Communication (AAC)
Evaluation and treatment of pragmatic language and social skills
Care for children pre and post cochlear implant (CI) surgery

Multidisciplinary Clinics

New! Autism Center of Excellence

The Autism Center of Excellence (COE) is designed for recently diagnosed children with autism that also have a complex medical condition. The team collaborates together to assess the patient and offer an individualized treatment plan with the goal of assisting families in navigating complex systems. The team also provides families with support and education to better advocate for their child’s needs while offering direct access to a cutting edge model of care.

Team Members Include:

Board Certified Developmental Behavioral Pediatrician
Board Certified Behavior Analyst
Speech Language Pathologist
Occupational Therapist
Physical Therapist
Registered Dietitian
Registered Nurse
Medical Social Worker
Child Life Specialist

Learn More about the Autism Center for Excellence

Cerebral Palsy

The Cerebral Palsy Clinic is specifically for children with central nervous system impairments. The major objective of the clinic is to assess child’s current level of function and to make recommendations for care that will improve or maintain the child’s freedom of movement and functional abilities. Children are seen annually but could be scheduled more frequently based on individual needs. Referrals to other specialties, such as Neurology and Orthopedics are made based on need.

Team members Include:

Cleft Lip/Palate – ACPA Center of Excellence

Team Members Include:

Cochlear Implant

The Cochlear Implant program is committed to providing comprehensive care and services to children who are deaf and hard of hearing and their families. The team is composed of a child and family, professionals from Children’s Clinics and professionals from the community who will help determine if a Cochlear Implant (CI) would benefit a child. If a child receives a CI, we help ensure they succeed.

Team members Include:

Down Syndrome – Child

In partnership with Southern Arizona Network for Down Syndrome, we offer a multidisciplinary Down Syndrome Clinic to meet the needs of children from birth to age 10.

Team Members Include:

Down Syndrome – Teen

In partnership with Southern Arizona Network for Down Syndrome, we offer a multidisciplinary Down Syndrome Clinic to meet the needs of children and adolescents from age 11 to young adulthood.

Team Members Include:

Palliative Care

A multidisciplinary supportive care program that provides individualized, comprehensive care-planning for children and their families.

Team Members Include:

Chaplain
Integrative Touch for Kids – Alternative Therapies
Med/Peds
Medical Social Worker
Nurse Coordinator
Pediatric Palliative Care Specialist
Pediatric Neurology

Neurocutaneous Clinic

The Neurocutaneous Multispecialty Clinic provides services for children with a collective group of congenital neurological disorders. The most common types of neurocutaneous syndromes are Neurofibromatosis (NF), Tuberous Sclerosis and Sturge-Weber Syndrome. Patients are seen yearly by each of the team members in this half-day clinic. Follow-up appointments with other providers are determined based on individual needs.

Team Members Include:

Neuromuscular Clinic

The Neuromuscular Multispecialty Clinic offers services for diagnoses including, but not limited to, Muscular Dystrophy, Myotonic Dystrophy, Spinal Muscular Atrophy and Charcot Marie Tooth disease. Most patients are seen annually by each team member in this half-day clinic. Follow-up appointments with other specialty providers are determined based on individual needs

Team Members Include:

Oral Maxillary

The Oral Maxillary Team provides dental, orthodontia, and oral surgery evaluations for children with Orofacial problems — mainly cleft palates, malocclusion, requiring dental care. This team meets monthly to assess readiness for bone grafting, dental restoration, and orthodontia.

Team Members Include:

Oral Surgeon
Orthodontists
Medical Social Worker
Nurse Coordinator

Osteogenesis Imperfecta

The Osteogenesis Imperfecta (OI) clinic serves children and young adults with osteogenesis imperfecta and other bony diseases. OI is also known as “brittle bone disease” because those affected have weak bones that break easily. OI is a genetic disorder and has no cure. Our OI clinic aims to manage the disease by caring for and treating broken bones and brittle teeth, managing pain, therapies, bracing, labs, and surgery. We recommend our patients follow up with orthopedics, as well. Children and families are encouraged to live an active, healthy lifestyle and follow up regularly.

Team Members Include:

Sickle Cell Clinic

Sickle Cell disease is an inherited blood disorder affecting red blood cells. The Sickle Cell Clinic is held six times a year to evaluate new patients and assess status of established patients. Because of the many complications that could occur, health maintenance of these children should start at birth. Sickle Cell Guidelines are used to manage on-going care and in the development of care plans. Referrals are made to other specialists as needed.

Team Members Include:

Spina Bifida

The Spina Bifida Clinic serves patients from birth to age 21 years with neural tube defects. The team strives to coordinate care for the complex medical needs of these individuals as well as to provide education, support and advocacy for their families. Patients are seen yearly by each of the services in this half-day clinic. Follow-up appointments in other specialty clinics may be made based on individual needs.

Team Members Include:

Additional Services

Lab/Phlebotomy

Educational Support

Child Life Specialists

Interpretation/Translation

Patient Advocacy

Brace Check Clinic

Equipment Clinic

Hearing Aide Evaluation

Orthotics

Prosthetics

Pet Therapy

Spasticity Clinic

Wheelchair Clinic

X-ray/Imaging

Childhood Experiences

Adaptive Recreation

Back-to-School Fair

Holiday Toy Market

Halloween Celebration

Spring Carnival

Teen Group

Play Groups