MetroHealth's Comprehensive Care Program addresses complications associated with premature birth; cerebral palsy; craniofacial malformations; feeding/eating difficulties; Down's syndrome; spina bifida/hydrocephalus; language and/or other developmental delays; behavior concerns; autism; and chromosomal disorders.

Comprehensive Care works with Northeast Ohio medical providers and their special needs patients of all ages, providing expert help to address complicated physical, developmental and behavioral issues throughout a patient’s life.

“MetroHealth’s program is the oldest such program in the country,’’ says Irene C. Dietz, MD, Director of Comprehensive Care/Developmental Pediatrics for MetroHealth.

While the nationally recognized program was recently named a medical home model, the medical team is also available for consultations.

Dr. Dietz said the program involves a lot of communication to help manage complex care and technology dependence and coordinating home-, educational- and community-based needs.

The program’s multidisciplinary team includes physicians, social workers, dieticians, nurses and three nurse practitioners – Ann Forster, Mary Flood and Kristen Palcisco – who have access to a wide range of medical specialists throughout The MetroHealth System.

The providers also have good professional rapport with specialists at other facilities and routinely communicate about shared patients. Providers can be reached 24/7 to answer questions and handle any medical emergency.

The program offers:

• Continuity of care with the same physicians, providing patients both inpatient and outpatient care
• Specialty clinics for spina bifida, hydrocephalus, cerebral palsy and craniofacial issues
• Coordination of appointments with other specialties to reduce the number of visits
• Care coordination with community agencies, schools and home care nursing providers
• Assistance with navigating the medical system and obtaining special equipment and supplies
• Liaisons from the Cuyahoga County Board of Developmental Disabilities

Coordinated medical visits are key to the program’s success.

“At our clinics, we can arrange for same-day appointments with a variety of specialties,” explains Kristin L. Kaelber, MD, PhD, FAAP, FACP. “Parents can get a unified answer on how best to care for children or adults with special needs. It’s the best way to provide care for them.”

Two other physicians work in the program in addition to Drs. Dietz and Kaelber. They are Marina Lazbin, MD, and Ronald John Magliola Jr., MD.

• Comprehensive Care Program