Spina Bifida Clinic
Multi-specialty care for people of all ages with spinal cord conditions
DMG Children’s Rehabilitative Services’ (DMG CRS) is a designated Spina Bifida Association Clinical Care Partner meeting ten standards established by the Spina Bifida Association for providing care to patients. Through our Clinic, we support patients of all ages with spinal cord conditions and caudal regression syndrome.
During our full-day pediatric spina bifida clinic, patients and their families meet with DMG CRS experts in caring for individuals with spinal cord abnormalities. These experts represent various medical specialties and support services and will answer questions, provide education, help identify needed resources, and discuss current research opportunities, if available.
DMG CRS provides lunch and encourages families to socialize and network with each other and our care team. Community resources are also available during the clinic.
Once a month, DMG CRS offers a transition clinic for teens and young adults ages 14-21 years old with spina bifida. In this clinic, we focus on assisting individuals and their families move towards independence as able, develop goals for self-care and independence, and provide community resource recommendations that can be beneficial as you and your family move from the pediatric healthcare system to the adult healthcare system. Following national guidelines for transition, we help you get established with a primary care provider (PCP) and medical specialists who care for adults. We also facilitate parent and patient groups separately so the teens, young adults and parents can learn from each other.
In 2018, DMG CRS established the first adult spina bifida clinic in Arizona to continue providing interdisciplinary care to our patients as and after they become adults in Arizona. This clinic meets monthly and provides integrated care for adults with spinal cord conditions. Our multispecialty team of physicians and support services are available during this clinic to assist you with specific needs and questions.
DMG CRS is committed to research and care. That’s why we participate in the CDC National Spina Bifida Patient Registry which collects clinical data needed to evaluate existing medical services for spina bifida patients in clinics like ours across the nation. The Registry provides valuable research for healthcare professionals and families affected by spina bifida and the framework for a systematic approach to improving the quality of care received at spina bifida clinics nationwide.