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Adoption

Carley F Befeler, FAAFP, MS, MD and Erin R Boone, Doctor of Medicine Reviewed 04/2024
 


BASICS

DESCRIPTION

  • As a primary care provider, parents may inquire for recommendations about adoption planning and specialized health care for their adopted child.

  • Adoptions occur through the national p...

DIAGNOSIS

HISTORY

  • Medical records are often limited or difficult to access.

  • Review chronic medical conditions, allergies, and medications.

  • Review immunization records carefully. Records that are “too per...

TREATMENT

GENERAL MEASURES

  • Encourage a regular diet for children who arrive malnourished.

  • Monitor linear growth.

  • Early intervention for all children with suspected delays.

  • Involve parents in local and onl...

ONGOING CARE

FOLLOW-UP RECOMMENDATIONS

Patient Monitoring

  • Regular well-child visits, particularly within first months of entry into the United States

  • Close monitoring of developmental milestones, behavio...

REFERENCES

1
Jones VF, Schulte EE, Council on Foster Care, Adoption, and Kinship Care, et al. Comprehensive health evaluation of the newly adopted child. Pediatrics. 2019;143(5):e20190657. doi:10.1542/...

ADDITIONAL READING

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. ACIP Vaccine Recommendations and Guidelines.  https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/hcp/acip-recs/index.html 

CODES

ICD10

  • Z02.82 Encounter for adoption services

  • Z62.821 Parent-adopted child conflict

CLINICAL PEARLS

  • Neurocognitive, behavioral, and developmental delays are common among adopted children, screen accordingly.

  • A pre-adoption visit can identify medical concerns, ensure travel safety for ...

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