Normal life looks a lot different these days, especially in healthcare. But there is one thing that hasn’t changed at Children’s Colorado: Your child’s health and safety are our highest priority. Kids need great pediatric care as much now as ever, and it’s for that reason that we’re reactivating services we temporarily suspended due to the pandemic. We are here to deliver safe, thoughtful, high-quality care for kids who need it. Learn what to expect – and all the ways we’re keeping patients safe.
If you're concerned that you or your child may have been exposed to COVID-19, please do NOT visit an emergency or urgent care location. Instead, call your doctor or our free ParentSmart Healthline at 720-777-0123 for guidance.
In life-threatening emergencies, find the emergency room location nearest you. For non-life-threatening medical needs when your pediatrician is unavailable, visit one of our urgent care locations.
To help inform you about the latest coronavirus (COVID-19) updates, experts from Children's Colorado have gathered information from local and national health authorities.
Our pediatric gastroenterologists and hepatologists help kids and teens with the full spectrum of GI problems. Here, we routinely diagnose and treat pediatric digestive conditions ranging from the most common to the very rare. Whether your family is looking for help addressing a known diagnosis or is still looking for answers, our experts can provide an in-person second opinion that will give you peace of mind and help ensure your child receives the best care available.
What is a second opinion?
A second opinion allows our nationally renowned specialists to provide their expert assessment of your child’s diagnosis or treatment plan. After collecting your child’s health history in an initial phone call, we’ll schedule an in-person appointment with one of our doctors. The doctor will review your child’s medical records, examine them in person and provide you with a thorough assessment of your child’s condition, including their recommendations for treatment.
Why you should get a second opinion for your child
Because medical knowledge and treatments are advancing every day, it can be particularly helpful to seek guidance from more than one doctor before proceeding with treatment. This is especially true when the diagnosis is rare or complex — or when the treatment could be life changing.
You might want to receive a second opinion about your child’s condition for several reasons. These include:
Comparing the results of different treatment plans
Finding and evaluating new or advanced therapies
Considering opportunities to join clinical trials
A second opinion from a pediatric gastroenterologist or hepatologist is especially helpful if you’re considering multiple treatment options. It may also eliminate the need for additional invasive testing, procedures or surgery for your child. Our goal is to help you make informed decisions about treatment that will help your child thrive.
Why request a second opinion from Children’s Colorado?
Our Digestive Health Institute is nationally recognized for our care. Here, we provide high quality and comprehensive digestive care from board-certified experts in esophageal, gastrointestinal, liver, pancreatic and nutritional disorders in children. We’ll work with you and your child’s primary care doctor or pediatrician to find answers and recommend treatments that will improve your child’s medical care and quality of life.
Our experts are leading the field in developing treatments and cures for some of the most serious pediatric digestive conditions, from liver failure to chronic pancreatitis. We see patients from across Colorado, the Rocky Mountain region, the U.S. and even internationally. And we’re committed to providing child- and family-centered care with support from child life specialists, amenities and spaces that make care easier on kids.
When should I ask for a second opinion?
You may want to seek a second opinion before your child begins treatment so you know all their options and feel good about your choice. A second opinion can also be helpful if your child has undergone treatment but continues to experience symptoms.
If your child has a rare or complex condition — like eosinophilic esophagitis, ulcerative colitis or chronic liver disease — our experts can help ensure you feel prepared and satisfied that you have learned about all the potential options for your child’s care. A second opinion may be especially important before any invasive procedure or surgery.
What to expect from a second opinion at the Digestive Health Institute
First, use the link below to schedule an initial phone call with our Digestive Health Institute via MyChart. This initial call will last for approximately 30 minutes and is free of charge.
During the call, one of our friendly team members will collect some basic information about your child. We’ll also ask a series of questions to help us choose which program(s) and provider(s) we recommend for your in-person visit.
If you determine you’d like to proceed with an in-person appointment, we’ll help coordinate the details for getting medical records, insurance or self-pay options ahead of your visit. We’ll also help you schedule your in-person appointment for a time that’s convenient for you.
If your child needs any procedures or tests as part of their evaluation, we’ll work with you to coordinate all the details before our specialist sees your child in person.
We’ll also help you navigate logistical items including lodging options, transportation services, local restaurants and parking.
At your visit, we’ll provide a comprehensive review of your child’s care and symptoms, and you’ll be able to ask the doctor any questions. We’ll also provide written recommendations to help you make informed decisions about your child’s treatment plan.
Request a second opinion
Ready to get started? Call us (choose option three) or schedule a time for your initial call now:
We’re here to help you find answers and get advice about your child’s health. Expand the windows below for additional information and answers to FAQs about second opinions at the Digestive Health Institute.
We see many patients at our hospital on Anschutz Medical Campus in Aurora. We also offer pediatric gastroenterology and hepatology services at other Children’s Colorado locations in the Denver Metro and Colorado Springs areas. We will work with you to find an appointment time and location that is most convenient for your family.
At Children’s Colorado, we involve multiple pediatric specialists to care for all aspects of a child’s health. This is called multidisciplinary care. Though your journey may start with pediatric gastroenterology or hepatology, we will be able to consult with other specialists as needed.
This largely depends on your child’s diagnosis, what tests may be needed and which specialists will be involved in providing a second opinion. During your initial phone call, our schedulers will be able to provide further details and answer your questions.
There is no charge for the initial 30-minute phone call.
Because each child’s medical needs are different and some may require testing ahead of the in-person appointment, there is no set cost.
During your initial phone call with us, we’ll ask you for information about your child’s health insurance. We’ll then work with your insurance provider or explore self-pay options to help you understand what to expect for cost and payment.
During your initial inquiry over the phone, we’ll ask you to provide contact information and details about your child’s health history. Please have the following information ready:
Patient and contact information
Patient name
Patient date of birth
Address
Name of parent/guardian
Your child’s primary care doctor or pediatrician’s name and contact information including phone number, address and email, if known
Insurance information (name, group, member ID)
Phone number and alternate emergency phone number
Email address
We’ll also ask for details about your child’s health history and where they have received medical care.
Clinical information
A summary or description of your child’s disease, diagnosis and symptoms
Your child’s GI specialty provider name and contact information (if applicable)
A complete list of locations where your child has previously received or is currently receiving care related to this concern
Your goals for the second opinion evaluation
We’ll also discuss what information and records we will need prior to your child’s appointment. Our team is available to guide you throughout the process.
Before your in-person visit, we’ll ask you to gather forms and documentation regarding your child’s health history. This includes:
HIPAA authorization form
Growth chart
Progress notes from your child's pediatrician and specialty providers
List of medications your child is currently prescribed and taking, including over-the-counter medications
Please include the medication name, dosage, frequency and prescribing doctor.
A complete clinical summary from your child’s doctor, including:
Diagnostic imaging and radiology studies and reports: X-ray, CT, MRI, MRE, DEXA bone scan, PET scan, MIBG scan, UGI with SBFT, ultrasound, gastric emptying, and Sitz marker studies. Note: Please include the actual images on a disc and tissue/biopsy slides when available.
Procedure and diagnostic study reports: endoscopy/colonoscopy, video capsule endoscopy, pathology reports, pH probe, manometry and motility studies and breath tests. Please include procedure, diagnostic and pathology reports when available.
All laboratory test results: complete blood count (CBC), comprehensive metabolic panel (CMP), direct and indirect bilirubin, AST, ALT, TTG, IgA. IGG, CRP, thyroid studies and stool studies such as fecal calprotectin and those screening for infectious organisms
Any surgical or operative reports
Details of any hospitalizations, such as hospital discharge summaries
Remember, we’re here to assist and guide you throughout the process.
Patients from across the country visit our Digestive Health Institute every week. If your child needs any procedures or diagnostic studies as part of their evaluation, we’ll work with you to coordinate those details ahead of your visit. We’ll also provide resources to help with lodging, transportation, local restaurants and parking.
Keeping patients, families and team members safe is our top priority. That’s why we’ve taken numerous steps that keep our facilities clean and safe including limiting the number of people in our locations, screening, testing, enhanced cleaning and much more. You can learn all about these safety precautions and procedures in our FAQs about getting medical care during the pandemic.
We’re here to help! Please give us a call at 720-777-6669 (choose option 3) and we’ll be happy to assist you.
Physicians can refer a patient to the Digestive Health Institute through OneCall. We're available for 24-hour specialist consultation, referrals, admissions, diagnostic dilemmas and more. Find our referral toolkit.
Incredibly different care
At Children’s Colorado, we know kids are incredibly different, from their growing bodies to their developing minds. That’s why they need incredibly different care.
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Children's Hospital Colorado providers
Children’s Hospital Colorado providers are faculty members of the University of Colorado School of Medicine. Our specialists are nationally ranked and globally recognized for delivering the best possible care in pediatrics.
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