Accessing Rady Children's

Access to Rady Children's Customer Service and Referral Center

There are a number of good referral services in the area for adults. But if your child needs a physician, there's only one place to call:  Rady Children's Customer Service and Referral Center at 800-788-9029.

When it comes to healthcare, children's needs are very different than those of adults. Their bodies respond to illness, injury and medication differently. From birth through adolescence, they need healthcare professionals trained to treat children.

We can assist you before your child is ill. We understand the importance of having a physician who is familiar with your child's history, who has already established a trusting relationship with you and your child before an acute need should occur. And we can help you understand the details of managed care.

We're here to help. And we're only a phone call away. If you're new to the area, you may not know where to turn to find a doctor. If you're expecting a baby, we can assist you in finding a physician who will care for your newborn, often the same day he or she is born.

We will assist you in any way possible to find a specialist who will meet your individual needs, and our assistance is free.

We can:

• Provide background information about the physicians, such as board certification, age and foreign language spoken.
• Place you with physicians listed on your specific insurance plan.
• Find a doctor who has an office location convenient for you, in many cases near your home or work.
• Assist with enrollment in the Health Families insurance plan.
• Offer information concerning the Anderson Center for Dental Care.
• Provide information on community resources available to your child.

And we are patient. We understand that your child might need your attention while you're talking to us. Don't worry; we'll wait or return your call when it's more convenient.

Before your appointment:

You may want to make a list of pertinent information and questions to bring with you. Any information you can offer about your child's illness is helpful to the doctor, and it's important that all your questions are answered. The list might include:

• A brief description of the problem. How long has it persisted?
• A list of medications (prescription and over-the-counter) your child is taking and the dosages.
• Your child's temperature.
• A description of how the problem has affected your child's appetite.
• Any significant changes that are uncommon for your child.

Hopefully your child will never require hospitalization...

..but if the need arises, it is comforting to know that the physicians you select are on staff at Rady Children's.

Rady Children's is the region's designated pediatric trauma center and the only hospital in San Diego, Riverside and Imperial counties dedicated solely to kids. Our physicians and services represent virtually every specialized branch of medicine and surgery. In addition to comprehensive inpatient and outpatient services, we have the Helen Bernardy Center for Medically Fragile Children, the Chadwick Center for Children & Families (formerly the Center for Child Protection) and the Jane and Norman Neely Rehabilitation Institute .

For your convenience, many of Rady Children's services are also offered at satellite facilities throughout the region.

Your child's healthcare is priceless to you and to us.