Adolescent Health Services

Adolescence is the period of life between childhood and adulthood, and it is often a challenging time for youngsters and their families. This is a period of personality development and physical change, during which young people have many unique needs. Occasionally a physical, behavioral or emotional problem may persist or be difficult to solve. The Adolescent Health Program of Indiana University Medical Center addresses these needs, and provides a comprehensive range of health-related services for young people 11 through 24 years of age.

A Special Team For Adolescent Health

Our interdisciplinary health team is specially trained in evaluating and caring for the problems of adolescents. Our physicians, pediatricians and internists have received additional specialty training in adolescent medicine. The care team also includes nurses and nurse practitioners, psychologists, dietitians, and social workers. Our approach is to provide immediate attention to the problem and to help each young person and family adopt healthy life-styles and coping mechanisms for the long term.

When to Get Help For Your Child

As a parent or other guardian, you may seek medical help for an adolescent because you are worried about behavior, physical symptoms or some emotional difficulties. Concerns or complaints about the way a child feels or acts should never be ignored. We suggest that you (or your child) first speak with your family physician or pediatrician. Then, if efforts to solve the problem are not successful, or if you are not able to find the professional help you need, you may call our program directly or ask your doctor for a referral.

The Adolescent Health Program is dedicated to any problem in an adolescent which persists or requires more specialized treatment than is usually available at the primary care level. Therefore, the range of services provided is quite broad and includes treatment for physical, emotional and behavioral problems:

• Acute health problems
• Chronic health problems which do not respond to treatment
• Reproductive health care including gynecological and menstrual problems, family planning, and prevention
• Evaluation and treatment of eating disorders and nutritional problems, including obesity and diabetes
• Special programs for older adolescents and young adults with diabetes
• Individual and group counseling for depression, stress, alcohol, and family problems

For Consultations or Referrals:

IMACS (Indiana Medical Access and Communication System) is a toll-free, direct line that gives you, the healthcare professional, and your office staff prompt access to IU faculty physicians for clinical consultations, patient referrals, patient information, or the latest research protocols. Simply call: (317) 916-3500 or 1-800-622-4989, or you can call the physicians office directly by phone (317) 274-8812 or fax (317) 274-0133.

In addition to connecting you with our clinical specialties, IMACS can connect you to: the Ruth Lilly Medical Library & Research Building; the IUPUI Medical Bookstore; the Clarian LifeLine Helicopter; the Newborn Intensive Care Vans and Continuing Medical Education. IMACS physician resource specialists are trained professionals who will expertly direct your call, even if you are not certain whom to ask for. Clarian Health Partners operates IMACS, and they follow detailed guidelines, established by our medical staff, to help you select the most appropriate person or area.

IMACS specialists will stay with you on the line until your call is complete to ensure you receive the information you need. They can transfer your call to a different area or help you make multiple contacts with just one call.

For routine consultations or referrals, please call IMACS Monday-Friday from 8am until 5:30pm. For emergency consultations or referrals, IMACS operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

[Keywords: behavior, physical symptoms, emotional difficulties, acute health problems, chronic health problems, treatment, reproductive health care, gynecological, menstrual problems, family planning, prevention, evaluation, treatment of eating disorders and nutritional problems, obesity, diabetes, special programs, older adolescents, young adults, individual and group counseling, depression, stress, alcohol, family problems, Adolescent Medicine.]