High Risk Infant Follow-up Clinic
There are three High Risk Follow-up Clinics in our state. Children born with problems around birth, such as prematurity, are at high risk of developmental and medical problems. These clinics aim to promote development of high risk children by early detection of problems, and teaching parents to assist their children's development.
Children will be seen between four and 30 months of age. The teams vary a little, but in general include pediatric speech, occupational and physical therapists, a nurse and Family Resource Coordinators from the local early intervention agency. The Missoula team also includes a neonatologist, and the Billings team a developmental pediatrician.
In general, children referred to the clinic are those who at significant increased risk of developmental delay. Appropriate referrals include graduates from the NICU (usually those born at 32 weeks or less in gestation) and children with any diagnosed physical or mental condition which places them at a significant increased risk for developmental delay such as intrauterine alcohol exposure, perinatal asphyxia, meningitis etc. Children are not appropriate referrals to the program who are at risk of developmental delay only because of environmental factors or who are in obvious need of comprehensive developmental intervention. An exception to this would be the child who had a recognized need for one type of therapy (such as PT) but was still only at risk for significant delays in other areas (such as speech).
Specialist: Laura Nicholson, MD, Developmental Pediatrician
Children's Clinic
1232 N 30th Street #200
Billings MT 59101
Phone: (406) 238-6600 (local)
Fax: (406) 238-6633
Clinic Site:
Eastern Region Specialty Clinics
Saint Vincent Physician Network
Fortin Pediatric Specialty Clinic
1232 North 30th Street, Suite 200
Billings MT 59101
Phone: (406) 237-5300 (local)
Phone: (866) 822-1411 (toll free)
Fax: (406) 237-5305
Clinics are held once a month on a Friday
