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The Hospital for Sick Children
Paediatric Multiple Sclerosis (MS) Clinic
The Paediatric MS Clinic at the Hospital
for Sick Children (HSC) began in October 1999 to provide comprehensive
assessment, treatment, education, and support of children and
adolescents diagnosed with multiple sclerosis and their families.
The clinic takes place twice a month and is run by a team of
health care professionals with expertise in childhood MS. Patients
receive regular follow-up appointments with the team and are
seen as needed during acute MS-related relapses. Acute relapses
are generally managed through our Medical Short Stay Unit, although
patients with more severe symptoms are admitted to hospital
if necessary. Children who live a long distance from HSC usually
receive urgent care for MS relapses through their local hospital
in consultation with the HSC team. Children diagnosed before
their 18th birthday are followed in the clinic until they have
completed high school.
Who Is Part Of the
Paediatric MS Clinic Team?
What Happens At the Clinic?
How Are Patients Referred to the Clinic?
How Do I Find Out More About the Clinic? Contact
Information
Who Is Part Of the Paediatric
MS Clinic Team?
The following professionals are available
for assessment, treatment, education and/or support during the
MS Clinic:
- Paediatric Neurologist
- Clinic Nurse (Multiple Sclerosis Certified
Nurse)
- Clinical Nurse Specialist in Paediatric
Neurology (Multiple Sclerosis Certified Nurse)
- Paediatric Physiotherapist
The following services provide additional
consultation, assessments or care as needed:
- Social Work
- Neuro-Ophthalmology
- Neuropsychology
- Psychiatry
- Infectious Diseases
- Neurophysiology - Evoked Potentials
- Diagnostic Imaging - MRI
What Happens At the Clinic?
All patients attending the clinic are assessed
by the paediatric neurologist and nurses. Based on the individual
needs of each patient and family, other members of the clinic
team such as the physiotherapist or social worker become involved.
Referrals to specialists such as a neuro-ophthalmologist, neuropsychologist
or psychiatrist are generated from clinic assessments. Recommendations
for further testing such as blood work, MRI, or evoked potentials
are also common during initial assessments or when a child
presents with new neurological symptoms. When a decision is
made to begin treatment with one of the disease modifying therapies,
the first injection takes place in the clinic and patients
and their families are educated on medication preparation,
administration and storage as well as management of side effects.
Additionally, information is provided to
families on multiple sclerosis, treatment options and community
resources.
How Are Patients Referred
to the Clinic?
A Neurologist or Paediatrician may refer
a patient under 18 years of age with a confirmed diagnosis of
multiple sclerosis to the HSC Paediatric MS Clinic. A referral
form may be obtained by calling the Neurology Clinic Booking
Office at 416-813-8133 or logging onto the Hospital for Sick
Children website at Sick
Kids and going to For Health Care Professionals then Referral
to Ambulatory Clinics and Services. The completed referral
form may be faxed or mailed to:
Neurology Clinic Booking Office,
Attention: Dr. Brenda Banwell
The Hospital for Sick Children
555 University Ave
Toronto, Ontario, Canada
M5G 1X8
Fax: 416-813-8105
How Do I Find Out More
About the Clinic? Contact information.
For general inquiries about the Paediatric
MS Clinic and the services provided, please contact:
Jennifer Boyd, Clinical Nurse Specialist
416-813-7738
E-mail: Jennifer
Boyd,
or
Lynn MacMillan, Clinic Nurse
416-813-7355
E-mail: Lynn
MacMillan
For physicians requesting a consultation with the Medical Director
about medical management of paediatric patients with MS, please
contact:
Dr. Brenda Banwell
416-813-6660
E-mail: Dr. Brenda
Banwell
This information was provided by the
Paediatric MS Clinic at Hospital for Sick Children, February
2004.
www.sickkids.on.ca
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