Multidisciplinary services
Multidisciplinary services describes clinics designed to treat complex problems that require evaluation and treatment by many medical specialties. Several medical specialties are present at these clinics, which allows patients and their families to meet with multiple specialists in the same location on the same day. This minimizes patient travel time, fosters rapid communication among the treating specialty physicians and staff members and as a result, enhances our ability to provide excellent care for these children.
The following are the multidisciplinary services in which pediatric otolaryngology is currently involved:
Craniofacial anomalies clinic
Fiberoptic endoscopic evaluation of swallowing (FEES)
Velopharyngeal insufficiency (VPI) clinic
This clinic provides comprehensive evaluation and management of children with problems such as cleft lip and palate, small jaw (micrognathia), facial bone malformations, hemifacial microsomia, and head shape anomalies such as craniosynostosis. Many of these children also have ear and breathing problems.
Participating medical specialties include the following:
The otolaryngology physician involved is Jeff Rastatter, MD.
Back to top This multidisciplinary service provides comprehensive evaluation and management of children with swallowing problems such as dysphagia and choking on food.
Participating medical specialties include the following:
The otolaryngology physician involved is James W. Schroeder Jr., MD.
Back to top This clinic provides comprehensive evaluation and management of children with velopharyngeal insufficiency. VPI is a condition in which faulty closing of the velopharyngeal sphincter (soft palate muscle in the mouth) during speech allows air to escape through the nose instead of the mouth. This causes improper pronunciation of some sounds and words.
Participating medical specialties include the following:
The otolaryngology physician who directs the VPI clinic is Jeff Rastatter, MD.
The primary speech/language pathologist is Annie Maher, MA, CCC-SLP. The nurse coordinator who schedules appointments is Judy Gebraski. For more information about these services or to schedule an appointment, please call Judy at 773.880.4796.