The Neonatal Developmental Follow-up Clinic in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania helps babies who were born prematurely or have complex health issues. We provide special care to meet their unique needs for both health and development.
These children have often spent time in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) of a hospital. The NICU takes care of newborns who are very sick.
Our clinic partners with UPMC NICUs to make sure your child has a seamless change of care.
The NICUs we partner with in central Pennsylvania are:
- UPMC Carlisle.
- UPMC Harrisburg.
- UPMC Lititz.
- UPMC Memorial.
How Do I Know If My Baby Needs Neonatal Follow-Up (NFU) Care?
The NICU team will let you know if our NFU clinic is right for your child. They will schedule the first visit before your baby leaves the hospital.
Our clinic supports your family and helps keep an eye on your child's health and developmental needs after leaving the NICU.
It's important to note that our team does not replace your child's regular doctor or well-child check-ups.
Our clinic is for children who may need:
- Close monitoring of their growth and development.
- A central place to manage their complex health care needs.
- Access to early treatment programs.
Our team will use tests designed to get an idea of your child's needs. And at your first visit, we'll give you details and referrals to support your infant up to age three.
Contact the Neonatal Developmental Follow-up Clinic in Harrisburg
Call us at 717-782-6880.
Our clinic is in located in the UPMC Community Care Building at:
2645 North Third St., 2nd Floor
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Why Choose UPMC for Your Child's NFU Care?
Besides neonatal follow-up care you won't find elsewhere, choose us for:
- Our long-standing expertise. Our clinic boasts an impressive track record of over 40 years. We specialize in caring for babies who have spent time in the NICU and have complex medical conditions.
- A dedicated team of experts. Our highly qualified team has special training in treating babies and kids with serious health issues. We make sure these unique children get the best possible care.
- A smooth transition from hospital to home. We understand how important it is to have a smooth transition home. It helps both your child and your family get settled. Our team works to provide the support and care needed to ease this transition.
- Unique testing. Our team uses specific tools to assess your child's needs, ensuring they receive proper care and support.
How Can the Neonatal Developmental Follow-up Clinic Help My Child?
Our goal is not only to treat your child but also to help them reach their full potential.
We strive to improve each child's development and quality of life.
We do this through:
- Predicting and addressing developmental delays. Your child may need help reaching certain milestones such as sitting, walking, speaking, and playing with toys. Our experts will monitor your child's progress and offer activities to do at home. They may also refer your child to speech, physical, and occupational therapies.
- Supporting ideal growth and diet for your baby. We monitor your child's growth and ensure they receive a balanced diet. Our team addresses any eating issues or concerns about your child's growth.
- Detecting and treating feeding problems. We watch for signs of feeding issues in infants and young children to ensure their health and well-being. Our team finds the causes and offers solutions. Our lactation counselor can help with breastfeeding issues.
- Identifying vision and hearing problems. Premature babies are at risk of vision and hearing issues. We make sure your child has follow-up visits with eye and hearing doctors who specialize in childhood conditions.
- Addressing emotional and behavioral concerns. We work with your family to identify signs of mental health issues. Once we know the scope of the issues, we can help you get the right care.
- Providing ongoing family support. We help your family navigate the challenges you may face. We listen to your concerns and help connect you with local resources.
What Can I Expect at My Child's NFU Clinic Visit?
The NICU discharge coordinator will plan your visit and give you details before your baby goes home. If you have questions, call our clinic at 717-782-6880.
Each clinic visit lasts up to 90 minutes.
Our team will look at your child's and family's health history.
We'll give your child a physical exam and assess all areas of growth, including:
- Movement (muscle tone and reflexes).
- Vision and hearing.
- Thinking skills.
- Communication skills.
- Social and emotional skills (feelings and interactions with others).
- Self-help skills (feeding and sleep).
The team will also use standardized tests and questionnaires to help plan your child's treatment.
Treatments options may include:
- Speech, occupational, physical therapy.
- Special education.
- Mental health counseling.
- Medication management.
We will closely monitor your child's growth and development and may recommend referral to experts in:
- Early intervention.
- Hearing and vision issues.
- Speech and language problems.
- Other subspecialty fields.
We will provide a full report to you and your child's doctor. We may ask you to come back for follow-up visits.
Your child's care team
The experts at our NFU clinic include:
A doctor
A doctor at our clinic:
- Will conduct thorough exams and tests to assess your child's physical, cognitive, language, emotional, and social development.
- May use standardized tests and techniques to gather data about your child's skills, milestones, and potential areas of concern.
- Make a diagnosis and design a tailored treatment plan to address your child's unique needs.
- Provide guidance on parenting techniques, behavior management methods, and resources near you to help your child's progress.
NFU clinic coordinators
Our clinic coordinators:
- Strive to make your child's transition from the NICU to our clinic smooth and efficient.
- Promote effective communication and coordination among your child's other health care teams.
- Schedule appointments and follow-up visits and make referrals.
- Help when you and your child visit our clinic. We'll help you with the registration process and collect the personal and medical information we need.
- Answer questions about our clinic, services, and health care team.
- Address any concerns you may have about your child's health or care.
Physical therapists (PTs)
PTs at the NFU clinic assess your child's:
- Developmental milestones.
- Motor skills.
- Strength and flexibility.
- Coordination and balance.
- Overall physical functioning.
Based on the results, the PT will:
- Create a customized treatment plan to promote your child's physical development and function.
- Work with the clinic's other experts to ensure a thorough, team-approach to care.
- Teach and guide you and your family members or caregivers on how to support and reinforce therapy goals at home.
Occupational therapists (OTs)
Our OTs conduct a thorough assessment of your child's:
- Sensory processing.
- Fine motor skills.
- Brain-based skills that we need to complete tasks.
- Social skills.
- Overall developmental progress.
Based on their findings, they'll tailor a treatment plan to your child's specific needs and goals.
The main goals of our OTs are to improve your child's quality of life and help them:
- Gain independence.
- Enhance functional skills.
- Foster social interactions.
Speech language therapists (SLTs)
SLTs at our NFU clinic:
Assess your child's communication skills, including:
- Speech sounds.
- Language comprehension.
- Communicative language.
- Social communication.
- Feeding and swallowing.
Based on the assessment results, SLTs:
- Will tailor a treatment plan that targets your child's specific areas of concern.
- They can give you techniques to help your child improve their communication skills at home.
- Provide ongoing support to help your child overcome their communication challenges and reach their full potential.
Infant developmental therapists (DTs)
DTs assess the overall development of an infant's or child', motor, cognitive, social-emotional, and communication skills.
The process often involves gathering information from parents or caregivers about the infant's health history and milestones
The DT will also ask about any concerns you may have.
They'll then conduct a series of assessments to find out your infant's developmental progress across different domains. These may include standardized tests, observations, and play-based interactions.
Based on the results, the DT will provide a detailed assessment report that:
- Outlines your infant's strengths and areas of concern.
- Addresses any developmental delays or issues that they found.
- Offers suggestions and techniques to support your infant's development.
Lactation consultants
These members of the NFU clinic care team help mothers who are having problems with breastfeeding.
They will:
- Assess the breastfeeding techniques, baby's latch, milk transfer, and overall breastfeeding experience.
- Address any breastfeeding concerns or challenges — like pain, low milk supply, problems with milk letdown, or trouble feeding the baby.
- Provide information and resources on how to form a successful breastfeeding relationship.
How Often Will My Child Visit the NFU Clinic?
The first visit usually takes place within a month or two after your baby leaves the hospital.
After the first visit, your child may visit every four to six months until their third birthday. The frequency depends on your child's specific needs and your family's circumstances.
Does My Insurance Cover Neonatal Developmental Follow-Up Care?
Most health insurance plans cover the cost of your child's care at our clinic.
Resources for Parents
If you have questions about our clinic, call us at 717-782-6880.
We've also listed some websites to help you and your child stay safe and healthy:
