Endocrinology Section

Endocrinology at Riley Hospital for Children

Indiana University Medical Center provides comprehensive services for infants, children, and adolescents with diseases or disorders of the endocrine glands, such as thyroid disease or diabetes. In addition to evaluation and treatment, an important part of our program is providing extensive educational and support services for our patients and their families.

Our Staff is Led by Physician Specialists

Our physicians are board certified in pediatrics and have received additional, subspecialty training in pediatric endocrinology/diabetology. Our team also includes pediatric nurse specialists, dietitians and a social worker. Less visible to patients, but just as important, our research teams conduct various studies, which continually search for ways to improve diagnosis and treatment of endocrine and diabetic disorders.

Treating Endocrine-Related Disorders

Our staff is experienced in treating all endocrine problems of infancy, childhood and adolescence. These include growth disorders, Turner's syndrome, ambiguous genitalia, delayed and precocious sexual development, goiters, congenital and acquired disorders of thyroid function, hypoglycemia, disorders of calcium metabolism, adrenal disorders, diabetes insipidus and anterior pituitary dysfunction. The Endocrine Testing Clinic is a state-of-the-art outpatient facility providing comprehensive evaluation of a broad range of endocrine conditions.

And Individualized Plan for Each Patient

Each child's treatment plan is individualized to the child's and family's unique needs. Depending on the problem, children may be treated either as inpatients in Riley Hospital for Children or as outpatients. In either case, our team works closely with the child's referring physician and offers specialized educational services to support both patient and family.

Education Supports the Child and the Family

Our Pediatric Endocrine Educational program provides the education families need to successfully deal with an endocrine problem. Many families of children who receive care on an outpatient basis require in-depth, ongoing education so that they can successfully manage their child's care at home. For example, families who give growth hormone injections to a child at home receive all the necessary education, written materials and supplies needed for home care, as well as support from our physicians and nursing staff.

Inpatient Care for Diabetic Children

Children who have just been diagnosed with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus are cared for in Riley Hospital for Children. Each child receives a thorough medical evaluation by a multidisciplinary care team, which includes a physician, nurse practitioner, dietitian and social worker. This team also works closely with the family to teach the basic skills they need to manage the disease after they leave the hospital. We prefer to admit our patients to Riley's Parent Care Unit whenever possible, so parents can take an active role in their child's care from the beginning. After the child leaves the hospital, the family's nurse practitioner follows up by phone, and then the family begins our ADAPT (Ambulatory Diabetes Adjustment Program for Treatment) program.

The Outpatient Diabetes Clinic

Comprehensive outpatient services for children and adolescents with diabetes are also provided. We see these children every three to four months for a comprehensive evaluation of their metabolic control. At each visit, the child will be seen by his or her physician, nurse practitioner and also, frequently, by a dietitian and social worker. The nurse then follows up with the family between visits as needed to adjust insulin or discuss laboratory results.

Comprehensive Evaluation

Pre-Adapt is a clinic designed for comprehensive medical, nutritional, educational and psychosocial evaluation or patients who need further education in diabetes management or who are in poor metabolic control. Our team of physician, nurse practitioner, dietitian and social worker sees each patient, and a thorough laboratory work-up is performed. Based on the evaluation, the child then begins ADAPT, enters Riley Hospital, or begins outpatient care.

Outpatient Education for the Whole Family

ADAPT is an American Diabetes Association-accredited outpatient education program for children and young adults with diabetes and their families. Through a wide range of topics, ADAPT helps patients and their families understand the disease and how it affects them now and in the future. Our main goal is to teach young patients how to develop good habits in managing diabetes. Patients and their families learn together in small group settings, and also receive individual counseling with the doctor, nurse, dietitian, and physical therapist.

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) 274-3889 or fax (317)274-3882.

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: endocrine glands, thyroid disease, diabetes, endocrinology, diabetology, growth disorders, Turner's syndrome, ambiguous genitalia, delayed and precocious sexual development, goiters, congenital, thyroid function, hypoglycemia, calcium metabolism, adrenal disorders, diabetes insipidus, anterior pituitary dysfunction, insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus]