Frequently Asked Questions

                Our team has compiled a list of the most common questions about pancreas care. Our team would be happy to answer any other questions you may have.

How can Nationwide Children’s help my child? My child is nervous about surgery. What can we do to set my child at ease? Do we need a referral from my child’s doctor? How soon can my child be seen? I’ve made the appointment for my child. What now? What do we need to do to prepare for our first visit? What will the first visit be like? How is a treatment plan developed for my child? When will we receive the treatment plan? Can you manage my child’s pain? How can we find out if my child’s condition is hereditary? Do you have resources for families traveling from out of state or internationally? Does Nationwide Children’s offer financial assistance? What health insurance plans do you accept?

Frequently Asked Questions How can Nationwide Children’s help my child? At Nationwide Children’s, we are dedicated to the most important thing to you: your child. Patients come worldwide to this nationally recognized and highly ranked facility to receive the best possible treatment and outcomes available. We offer a skilled multidisciplinary care team with unrivaled emphasis on the wellbeing of your child at every stage of care. We provide multiple levels of care for children suffering from conditions such as:

Acute pancreatitis Acute recurrent pancreatitis Annular pancreas Chronic pancreatitis Congenital abnormalities Masses, tumors, cysts and pseudocysts of the pancreas Pancreas divisum Pancreatic insufficiency

Treatment options can include:

Maintaining good nutrition during periods when it is difficult to eat Relieving pain Intravenous (IV) fluids Vitamin and pancreatic enzyme supplementation Removing stones from the ducts Opening blockages, also known as strictures, in the ducts

Advanced procedures:

Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS) Cystgastrostomy Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT)

My child is nervous about surgery. What can we do to set my child at ease? We understand how intimidating surgery can be. In addition to encouraging kids to bring self-soothing aids, like stuffed animals, parents are often able to sleep on extra beds in the patient’s room. We also offer behavioral health and child life services to help kids prepare for their procedures, remain calm during treatment and recuperate afterward. Do we need a referral from my child’s doctor? At Nationwide Children’s, we believe that no one knows your child better than you. If you feel there is a problem we can help with, please call the Pancreas and Liver Care Center at (614) 938-7522. With your permission, we will contact your child’s current physician and other specialists your child may have seen before your initial appointment with us. These records help us better understand what your child is experiencing, what tests have already been done, information you have already shared about your child’s health, and how we may be able to help. How soon can my child be seen? We will work hard to get your child seen as soon as possible. Clinics are available throughout the month. Typically, the initial in-person evaluation takes place within a few weeks of receiving the referral — but certainly sooner if the diagnosis is critical. I’ve made the appointment for my child. What now? First, take a deep breath. You are not alone. We are here to help you every step of the way. An intake coordinator will reach out to you before the scheduled appointment to take your child’s medical history. This will include previous treatments. They will want to know what you want to get out of your visit to Nationwide Children’s. They will also be available to answer any questions and address your concerns. The information you provide will be given to the point person on the multidisciplinary team taking charge of your child’s case. This expert team will have a meeting to review that information and any records or information received from your child’s doctors. The team will discuss how they can advance the quality of life for your child through testing or therapies, and the intake coordinator will contact you to confirm the plan for your first visit. What do we need to do to prepare for our first visit? Your intake coordinator, nurses and social workers will give you a detailed plan of what to expect and what to do to prepare. This will be different for each patient. This could include sending over your child’s prior test results or scheduling additional tests your child needs before their first appointment. They will also help you find lodging, if needed, or address any other concerns you have. Before the visit, you may wish to write down a list of questions you have for the medical team. Please arrive 30 minutes early for your first appointment. What will the first visit be like? Our team will take time to get to know both you and your child, and to discuss all of your health concerns. Depending on your child’s needs, a first outpatient visit can last several hours and include appointments with different pediatric subspecialists. It can also involve diagnostic testing and therapeutic procedures. You will be told more about what to expect when the intake coordinator reaches out before your appointment. How is a treatment plan developed for my child? When will we receive the treatment plan? Following the initial visit and assessments, your child’s pancreas care team will reconvene to discuss the findings and possible treatment recommendations. These may include both short-term strategies and long-term options to help your child achieve the best possible outcome and quality of life. Throughout your child’s treatment at Nationwide Children’s, the multidisciplinary team will continue to meet to discuss how well treatments are working and how they can enhance your child’s health. These updates will be shared with you so that we can help your family understand and implement any changes in the care plan. At your first visit, the team will give you an idea of how soon the treatment plan will be ready and when treatment can begin. As each child is unique, the treatment plan will be different for every patient. Can you manage my child’s pain? Pain management is an essential part of pancreas care at Nationwide Children’s. Our pancreas care team includes pediatric pain specialists, pain psychologists and nurses who help manage your child’s immediate pain needs and work together to develop a long-term plan for pain management. Learn more about our approach to pancreatic pain management. How can we find out if my child’s condition is hereditary? Nationwide Children’s can perform genetic testing for pancreatic diseases when needed. This helps identify whether the pancreatic illness your child is suffering has a genetic cause, which may help the pancreas care team make more informed decisions about treatment options. If your child requires genetic testing, our highly qualified pediatric genetic counselor is available to discuss testing options, go over the results and answer any questions. If a genetic cause is identified, family testing is available regardless of symptom status. This testing can provide helpful information for family members about a possible increased risk of developing pancreatitis, diabetes or even pancreatic cancer. Do you have resources for families traveling from out of state or internationally? This is a stressful time for you and your family. Our Global Patient Services program can assist with your travel plans and make arrangements for your stay in Columbus. We also provide coordination of appointments, help with financial questions, interpreter services and follow up with your local physicians after discharge. From our Ronald McDonald House to our family activity calendar to our concierge services, we offer a wide range of resources to make your stay as comfortable as possible. Does Nationwide Children’s offer financial assistance? Nationwide Children’s is committed to taking care of your child regardless of your financial status. Learn more about our financial assistance program. What health insurance plans do you accept? We accept all major health insurance companies. Please call to see if your insurance is included, but remember — we are committed to taking care of your child regardless of financial status, insurance status or legal status. Back to Top

Frequently Asked Questions

How can Nationwide Children’s help my child?

How can Nationwide Children’s help my child?
My child is nervous about surgery. What can we do to set my child at ease?
Do we need a referral from my child’s doctor?
How soon can my child be seen?
I’ve made the appointment for my child. What now?
What do we need to do to prepare for our first visit?
What will the first visit be like?
How is a treatment plan developed for my child? When will we receive the treatment plan?
Can you manage my child’s pain?
How can we find out if my child’s condition is hereditary?
Do you have resources for families traveling from out of state or internationally?
Does Nationwide Children’s offer financial assistance?
What health insurance plans do you accept?

At Nationwide Children’s, we are dedicated to the most important thing to you: your child. Patients come worldwide to this nationally recognized and highly ranked facility to receive the best possible treatment and outcomes available. We offer a skilled multidisciplinary care team with unrivaled emphasis on the wellbeing of your child at every stage of care. We provide multiple levels of care for children suffering from conditions such as:

Maintaining good nutrition during periods when it is difficult to eat
Relieving pain
Intravenous (IV) fluids
Vitamin and pancreatic enzyme supplementation
Removing stones from the ducts
Opening blockages, also known as strictures, in the ducts
Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP)
Endoscopic ultrasound (EUS)
Cystgastrostomy
Total pancreatectomy with islet autotransplantation (TPIAT)

My child is nervous about surgery. What can we do to set my child at ease?

We understand how intimidating surgery can be. In addition to encouraging kids to bring self-soothing aids, like stuffed animals, parents are often able to sleep on extra beds in the patient’s room. We also offer behavioral health and child life services to help kids prepare for their procedures, remain calm during treatment and recuperate afterward.

Do we need a referral from my child’s doctor?

At Nationwide Children’s, we believe that no one knows your child better than you. If you feel there is a problem we can help with, please call the Pancreas and Liver Care Center at (614) 938-7522. With your permission, we will contact your child’s current physician and other specialists your child may have seen before your initial appointment with us. These records help us better understand what your child is experiencing, what tests have already been done, information you have already shared about your child’s health, and how we may be able to help.

How soon can my child be seen?

We will work hard to get your child seen as soon as possible. Clinics are available throughout the month. Typically, the initial in-person evaluation takes place within a few weeks of receiving the referral — but certainly sooner if the diagnosis is critical.

I’ve made the appointment for my child. What now?

First, take a deep breath. You are not alone. We are here to help you every step of the way. An intake coordinator will reach out to you before the scheduled appointment to take your child’s medical history. This will include previous treatments. They will want to know what you want to get out of your visit to Nationwide Children’s. They will also be available to answer any questions and address your concerns. The information you provide will be given to the point person on the multidisciplinary team taking charge of your child’s case. This expert team will have a meeting to review that information and any records or information received from your child’s doctors. The team will discuss how they can advance the quality of life for your child through testing or therapies, and the intake coordinator will contact you to confirm the plan for your first visit.

What do we need to do to prepare for our first visit?

Your intake coordinator, nurses and social workers will give you a detailed plan of what to expect and what to do to prepare. This will be different for each patient. This could include sending over your child’s prior test results or scheduling additional tests your child needs before their first appointment. They will also help you find lodging, if needed, or address any other concerns you have. Before the visit, you may wish to write down a list of questions you have for the medical team. Please arrive 30 minutes early for your first appointment.

What will the first visit be like?

Our team will take time to get to know both you and your child, and to discuss all of your health concerns. Depending on your child’s needs, a first outpatient visit can last several hours and include appointments with different pediatric subspecialists. It can also involve diagnostic testing and therapeutic procedures. You will be told more about what to expect when the intake coordinator reaches out before your appointment.

How is a treatment plan developed for my child? When will we receive the treatment plan?

Following the initial visit and assessments, your child’s pancreas care team will reconvene to discuss the findings and possible treatment recommendations. These may include both short-term strategies and long-term options to help your child achieve the best possible outcome and quality of life. Throughout your child’s treatment at Nationwide Children’s, the multidisciplinary team will continue to meet to discuss how well treatments are working and how they can enhance your child’s health. These updates will be shared with you so that we can help your family understand and implement any changes in the care plan. At your first visit, the team will give you an idea of how soon the treatment plan will be ready and when treatment can begin. As each child is unique, the treatment plan will be different for every patient.

Can you manage my child’s pain?

Pain management is an essential part of pancreas care at Nationwide Children’s. Our pancreas care team includes pediatric pain specialists, pain psychologists and nurses who help manage your child’s immediate pain needs and work together to develop a long-term plan for pain management. Learn more about our approach to pancreatic pain management.

How can we find out if my child’s condition is hereditary?

Nationwide Children’s can perform genetic testing for pancreatic diseases when needed. This helps identify whether the pancreatic illness your child is suffering has a genetic cause, which may help the pancreas care team make more informed decisions about treatment options. If your child requires genetic testing, our highly qualified pediatric genetic counselor is available to discuss testing options, go over the results and answer any questions. If a genetic cause is identified, family testing is available regardless of symptom status. This testing can provide helpful information for family members about a possible increased risk of developing pancreatitis, diabetes or even pancreatic cancer.

Do you have resources for families traveling from out of state or internationally?

This is a stressful time for you and your family. Our Global Patient Services program can assist with your travel plans and make arrangements for your stay in Columbus. We also provide coordination of appointments, help with financial questions, interpreter services and follow up with your local physicians after discharge. From our Ronald McDonald House to our family activity calendar to our concierge services, we offer a wide range of resources to make your stay as comfortable as possible.

Does Nationwide Children’s offer financial assistance?

Nationwide Children’s is committed to taking care of your child regardless of your financial status. Learn more about our financial assistance program.

What health insurance plans do you accept?

We accept all major health insurance companies. Please call to see if your insurance is included, but remember — we are committed to taking care of your child regardless of financial status, insurance status or legal status.

Frequently Asked Questions#

Frequently Asked Questions