Navigating the Cerebral Palsy Roadmap: Early Diagnosis is Key
When you or a parent is concerned that a child is not meeting developmental milestones, we can help navigate the journey.
While cerebral palsy (CP) is one of the most common causes, making an accurate diagnosis early is critical. We often get questions from primary care providers about when they should refer their patients who aren’t meeting milestones to Gillette. The answer is: as soon as possible.
When you send your patient to Gillette, they will receive the needed evaluation from the most experienced pediatric experts in neurology, physical medicine and rehabilitation (PMR), orthopedics and physical therapists in the Midwest. If the child’s delays are benign, we’ll be able to send them back to you confident that they received an evaluation from the foremost experts in the field.
If our team finds definitive clinical concerns, we’ll work with you to chart out a treatment plan for your patient. That plan may include:
Evaluation and diagnostics. CP is a complex condition, and our screening and diagnostic testing is comprehensive. Examples include neurological assessments, genetic testing, MRI, CT, EOS imaging, motion analysis, and evaluations by pediatric physical and occupational therapists.
Gait analysis. Our gait lab, the James R. Gage Center for Gate and Motion Analysis, allows us to capture motion analysis and muscle activity the eye can’t see and ensures our ability to create treatment plans specifically tailored to each patient’s unique needs. The lab is among the world’s best and busiest.
Pediatric PMR. Our PMR physicians are the largest group in the Midwest and are highly-trained and specialized in treating children who have cerebral palsy.
Pediatric orthopedics. Our team performs the most CP-related orthopedic surgeries in Minnesota. Because we see the full spectrum of CP, from mild to severe, all patients benefit from our depth of experience, no matter their complexity.
Complex Care pediatrics. This is not a replacement for primary care services, but supportive services providing coordination of specialty care and whole-patient wellness. Our Complex Care team works closely with our primary care partners to ensure comprehensive, seamless care for our patients and their families.
Rehabilitative therapies and more. We support our CP patients with orthotics, prosthetics, and custom seating in 12 locations, and offer physical, occupational and speech therapy in all four metro clinics and as virtual appointments.
We truly appreciate your partnership in care, and we are ready to consult on any case, from the simplest concerns to the most complex. Call our One-Call line for medical providers: 651-325-2200 or 855-325-2200 (toll-free).
