Adoption Medicine
With the referral of your child, you will also receive a medical report. At that point, it can be very helpful to consult with a pediatrician who specializes in internationally adopted children. This doctor can look over the report for you to give you a sense of the overall health of the child, as well as any medical concerns you may want to address when you bring the child home.
- This site has an excellent listing of doctors who specialize in adoption
medicine, by state: http://www.fwcc.org/doclist.htm
- This site lists doctors in both Canada and America: Adoption Medical Clinics (www.familyhelper.net)
Often adoption specialists do not continue to see your child on a regular basis. In that case you will want to find a pediatrician who will understand the unique needs of an internationally adopted child. A good way to start your search is by asking family and friends for their recommendations. It is also a good idea to interview pediatricians to find one who is a good match for your family. For an extensive list of questions you may want to ask, click here.
Internationally adopted children have a number of medical concerns and issues that should be addressed as soon as they arrive in the United States. The following are links to lists of tests, screenings and immunizations that are recommended: