Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP)

Journey to Health International Patient Services

Families whose children have complex and challenging illnesses look worldwide for the highest caliber medical care — a journey that brings many to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP).

The United States’ first hospital devoted exclusively to the care of children, for more than 150 years CHOP has set an unparalleled standard of patient care, scientific advances and training for leaders in pediatric medicine worldwide. From our exceptional staff to our premier facilities, we are committed to providing superb care for every child and family who seek our services.

We have welcomed patients from more than 50 nations for care in nearly every pediatric subspecialty. To help families from afar easily access our exceptional care, CHOP has created International Patient Services. Our goal is to make the journey to health as easy and reassuring as possible for the families we serve and to provide children the world over with access to the most skilled specialists in pediatric medicine.

We provide comprehensive coordination of care, from initial referral through treatment and return to the patient’s home country. Our clinicians review medical records and make recommendations for evaluation and treatment options available at our institution. Throughout, International Patient Services manages communication between referring doctors and CHOP specialists. Our program assists with discharge planning and transition to home, with individualized attention for each child.

About Us

The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia is one of the most advanced medical facilities in the world, equipped to care for patients requiring complex evaluation and treatment. Our clinicians’ expertise is enhanced by state-of-the-art equipment. Our patient care units, operative facilities and imaging suites have been designed entirely with safety, streamlined care and the unique needs of children in mind.

Distinctions:

• Ranked the #1 pediatric hospital in the U.S. four consecutive times in a comprehensive, data-based survey initiated by Child magazine and continued by Parents magazine
• One of only eight pediatric hospitals named to U.S.News & World Report’selite Honor Roll for 2010-11, and recipient of the magazine’s highest overall ranking among pediatric hospitals for seven of the last eight years
• The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia Research Institute is engaged in more than 800 externally-funded basic and clinical investigations. It ranks second among pediatric hospitals in National Institutes of Health funding.

Leading Programs

International patients visiting Children’s Hospital have access to many world-renowned specialty programs in pediatric medicine and surgery.

Cancer

• Offering the most advanced treatments, including the world’s first proton beam therapy service exclusively for childhood cancers
• A world leader in translational cancer research and one of only a few designated Phase I trial centers
• Access to many new and unique therapeutic trials
• At the forefront of developing new therapies for neuroblastoma, other solid tumors and pediatric hematopoietic malignancies

Fetal Diagnosis and Treatment

• A pioneer in the highly specialized field of fetal medicine and one of only a few programs worldwide to offer comprehensive care from prenatal diagnosis through postnatal treatment, including fetal therapy
• The greatest collective experience in the world treating spina bifida, the most common birth defect of the central nervous system, before birth
• Highly experienced, multidisciplinary team dedicated exclusively to the care of babies yet to be born
• Home to the world’s first delivery unit exclusively for women carrying babies with birth defects
• Patients from more than 50 countries have sought care from the Center

Cardiac Surgery and Cardiology

• The most advanced multidisciplinary care for all types of congenital and acquired heart and lung disease, from before birth to adulthood
• Recognized internationally for excellence in diagnostic and interventional cardiology, complex surgery, and specialized anesthesia for pediatric cardiac patients
• More than 550 open-heart surgeries and 90,000 diagnostic studies annually
• Fetal Heart Program provides expert diagnosis and management of congenital heart conditions before birth

Orthopaedic Surgery

• Internationally renowned for development of surgical procedures and for specialized skill in limb-sparing surgery; more than 2,000 surgeries each year
• Home to a comprehensive center for treatment of spinal deformities and Thoracic Insufficiency Syndrome

Endocrinology

• One of the largest pediatric programs in the United States and a referral center for patients worldwide
• Expert evaluation and treatment for a broad range of disorders including thyroid, adrenal and pituitary conditions; sexual maturation and calcium regulation problems; and conditions causing hypoglycemia, such as glycogen storage disease and fatty acid oxidation disorders

Congenital Hyperinsulinism

• One of the world’s only dedicated programs for children with hyperinsulinism
• Employs advanced PET scanning technology to diagnose focal lesions, resulting in complete surgical cures for many children affected with this form of the disease
• The world’s largest surgical volume for this rare condition

Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Nutrition

• Renowned for diagnostic, management and research expertise for a broad array of disorders
• More than 4,000 state-of-the-art diagnostic studies performed annually
• Specialized programs for celiac disease, pediatric inflammatory bowel disease, feeding and swallowing disorders, and lipid heart disease
• Comprehensive liver center – a world leader in diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic pediatric liver diseases

Pulmonology

• At the forefront of patient care and research for the entire range of diseases affecting the lung, chest wall and control of respiration in children
• Extensive expertise in management of complex end-stage lung disease
• Specialized centers for cystic fibrosis, asthma, congenital lung disorders and chronic respiratory failure requiring home mechanical ventilation or other forms of technology
• Home to a pioneering pediatric Sleep Center, providing diagnosis and treatment for all types of sleep disorders

Urology

• A world leader in treating children with congenital and acquired urological disorders
• Recognized for expertise in minimally invasive and reconstructive surgery, bladder and voiding problems, and kidney stone treatment
• Extensive experience in treating all problems of the internal and external genital system, including disorders of sexual differentiation
• More than 17,000 outpatient visits and 2,500 surgeries each year

Family Centered Care

When a child is sick, the entire family is affected. Traveling far from home for care can cause additional stress. At CHOP, we are dedicated to alleviating as much of the burden as possible, caring not just for the child, but for the family as well. We strive to make families comfortable and to keep them informed and involved in their children’s care.

Attention to families’ comfort is evident at every turn, from spacious patient rooms, to family lounges and children’s playrooms, to dining, educational and worship facilities. We know that our home may become your home for an extended period — and we do everything possible to make your stay the best it can be. Our International Patient Services team offers a wide breadth of support services to assist families — from teaching about a child’s condition to locating spiritual resources to suggesting ways to make the most of Philadelphia’s rich cultural offerings.

Our location within the vibrant University City area of Philadelphia offers comfortable accommodations, places of worship, cultural attractions, excellent restaurants and shopping.

Choosing CHOP

Our staff is eager to assist international patients, families and referring physicians. Upon receiving an inquiry, CHOP clinicians will review patient records and recommend a plan of care for the child’s visit to our institution.

International Patient Services helps families manage the many details involved with coming to The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, including coordination of medical records and documentation required for travel, appointment scheduling, obtaining prescriptions, Hospital tours, ground transportation in Philadelphia, travel arrangements to and from the Hospital, coordination of follow-up care for ongoing treatment, lodging and accommodations, interpreter services, and locating places of worship, restaurants, banking services and other resources.

A major metropolitan center, Philadelphia is conveniently located midway between New York City and Washington, D.C. Philadelphia International Airport offers daily direct flights from many international locations.

For full information on International Patient Services at The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, please visit chop.edu/international.

Contact Us

For inquiries regarding patient consultations or referrals, please contact our staff:

E-mail: [email protected]

Website: chop.edu/international

Telephone: (if calling from outside of the United States) 001-267-426-6298

Fax: 001-267-426-6313

CHOP’s International Patient Services is available Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m., North American Eastern Standard Time. To reach a physician orother staff member outside those times, dial the Hospital’s main number:001-215-590-1000.