Pediatric Gastroenterology Referral Guidelines
The Gastroenterology practice at Valley Children’s specializes in the diagnosis and management of infants, children, and adolescents with gastrointestinal and nutrition disorders. The practice treats many conditions such as unspecified abdominal pain, esophageal reflux, gastritis, gastrointestinal bleeding, esophagitis and irritable bowel syndrome.
We offer outpatient gastroenterology services across the region to provide children and families access to care close to home. Our physicians practice full-time at Valley Children’s pediatric subspecialty centers. We also provide pediatric gastroenterology services in Modesto, Merced, the Central Coast and Bakersfield.
Refer to Gastroenterology
Refer to pediatric gastroenterology online through CareLink or our referral portal, or refer via fax.
Refer a patientGastroenterology Office Numbers
Contact Pediatric Gastroenterology via phone (559-353-5745) or fax (559-353-5760).
Contact a Physician Liaison
Physicians can reach a physician liaison for help with referrals or other questions by calling 559-353-7229.
Download the pediatric gastroenterology referral guidelines as a PDF
| Condition | Pre-referral Work-up | When to Refer |
|---|---|---|
| Chronic Abdominal Pain |
History and physical Labs: CBC, ESR, CRP, UA, complete metabolic panel, lipase, stool guaiac Radiographic studies: supine and upright plain abdominal films |
Children with periumbilical abdominal pain without vomiting |
| Chronic Non-Bloody Diarrhea |
History and physical Labs: stool studies - culture, O&P, clostridium difficile toxin, stool WBCs, stool guaiac, stool for fat, CBC, ESR If there is failure to thrive consider sweat test |
Persistent diarrhea over two weeks Chronic otitis media Chronic hoarseness |
| Gastroesophageal Reflux |
History and physical Growth charts Labs: CBC, stool guaiac Radiographic studies: ultrasound if considering pyloric stenosis, upper GI series |
Persistent spitting up in infants with poor weight gain, or symptoms consistent with esophagitis (persistent crying or Recurrent pneumonia Possible aspiration pneumonia Intractable asthma unresponsive to usual medications Asthmatic attacks that reoccur predominantly at night time |
| Failure to Thrive |
History and physical Growth charts Labs: Complete CBC, sedimenation rate, prealbumin, complete metabolic panel, UA Dietary evaluation performed prior to referral Social evaluation (parental divorce / separation, parental custody, etc.) |
Patients with slow weight gain falling under the 5th percentile or dropping off age-appropriate growth curves Parental heights and weights as adults at age 18 |
| Bloody Stool |
History and physical Labs: CBC, ESR, stool culture, O&P, stool for clostridium difficile toxin, stool WBCs, complete metabolic panel |
Persistent blood in stools with or without diarrhea |