The Royal Children's Hospital Melbourne

Referrals

To arrange an outpatient appointment at the Royal Children's Hospital Physiotherapy Department, a referral card or letter should be sent by the child's doctor to the Physiotherapy Department. If it is more appropriate we may arrange for your child to be seen by one of the community-based paediatric physiotherapists closer to your home. Please contact us if you require further information.

---

Allied Health Developmental Assessment for RCH children

Allied Health is piloting a streamlined multidisciplinary developmental assessment for infants and young children (0-5 years). 

Referral criteria for this service are:

1. The infant/child is aged between 0-5 years
2. The infant/child has a RCH Unit Record (UR) and they are a public patient
3. There is a developmental concern in two or more of the following skill areas:
   • Motor (gross and fine)
   • Communication (receptive and expressive)
   • Play and self-care
   • Cognition
   • Social/emotional
   • Feeding
4. The infant/child is under the auspice of a medical consultant who is investigating their developmental concerns
5. You need a second opinion on the progress of their development

Considerations for referral include:

• The infant/child should not currently be receiving allied health services either through Early Childhood Intervention Services (ECIS), through other community agencies, or through private therapy providers
• Children where autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is suspected should be referred to the Developmental and Autism Assessment Intake (Janine Standen: 9345 6733, pager  9283)

Referrals and questions about this service should be directed to: ahdevelopment.service@rch.org.au

Intake referral form - Allied Health Developmental Assessment Service (Word 43.0KB)

Post Intervention Therapy (PIT)

Post Intervention Therapy (PIT) funding is available for children with cerebral palsy to receive additional physiotherapy following orthopaedic surgery to the lower limbs. To be eligible the child must be under 18, a resident of Victoria and have undergone the surgery in a Victorian Public Hospital.

Considerations for referral include:

• Functional level of the child
• Therapy services already in place
• Type and goals of surgical intervention

Forms and Documents:

1. PIT funding application form - PIP Application Form VINAH.doc  
2. Exit Summary - Exit Summary and Plan VINAH.doc
3. PIT Orthopaedic Pathway - PIT Orthopaedic Surgery Pathway.pdf
4. Frequently asked questions about PIT - PIT FAQs.pdf

Questions regarding the amount of funding and applications should be directed to the PIT Co-ordinator, Physiotherapy department (p. 9345 5411)

Questions regarding invoices, service agreements and exit summaries should be directed to the Administration Manager, RCH @ Home (p.9345 6562)

Questions regarding PIT services for children following botox, intrathecal baclofen or selective dorsal rhizotomy should be directed to VPRS Statewide Program Manager (p. 9594 4001)