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SickKids

Juvenile Dermatomyositis Clinic

Location:
170 Elizabeth St., Clinic 9, Main Floor
Phone:
416-813-7281

About the Clinic

The Juvenile Dermatomyositis Clinic is a comprehensive care clinic for children and their families affected by this rare autoimmune disorder. The medical team in our clinic is world-leading in the treatment of JDM in children. The best up-to-date treatment approaches have been developed here at SickKids and published worldwide. This has helped standardize the care for JDM patients in other centres in North America and the world. The clinic currently operates with staff, physician trainees, an advanced therapist practitioner and nursing support.   

Pre-appointment Instructions

What to bring: 

  • Immunization record 
  • Clothing for your child to wear to allow for a full physical exam (T-shirt/tank top and shorts). 

Important pre-appointment instructions: 

If there are any special pre-appointment instructions you will be contacted by clinic staff prior to your visit and provided with full details. 

Directions: 

The Rheumatology Clinic is found in Clinic 9. The waiting and registration area is in the Burton Wing in Room M100. 

From the University Avenue entrance, walk right, down the hallway and turn down the first hallway on your left. We are the first clinic you will find on the right side of the hall. 

From the Elizabeth Street entrance and parking garage elevators, walk west along Main Street towards Shoppers Drug Mart. At the Family Centre turn left. At the end of this hallway you will find our registration and waiting area in front of you. 

What to Expect During Your Visit

Appointments generally last at least 1 to 2 1/2 hours, and while we do our best to be as efficient as possible, sometimes the waiting time is beyond our control. 

Once in the JDM clinic, you will register your child at the desk and be given a short questionnaire to fill out (Child Health Assessment Questionnaire or CHAQ). This will provide us with a snapshot of how your child is feeling and how his or her physical function has been in the past week. Your child will then be asked to have a blood test done. 

When a clinic room is available your child will be called in for an assessment, which includes your child’s weight, height and blood pressure; review of current medications (if any); and your child’s current physical status. Each patient has a comprehensive physiotherapy assessment performed, which will challenge the child’s muscular strength and endurance. A physician trainee or advanced therapist practitioner will complete a full review and exam. This will be followed by a review with the staff physician and a discussion of your child’s plan of care. This may include starting new or changing current medications, blood tests, urine testing and/or imaging (X-rays).   

If necessary, you may also meet with other members of the health-care team. This team includes nursing, physiotherapy, occupational therapy, dietitians, and social work professionals. Each member plays an important role in patient/family assessment, education, support and follow-up.

Referrals to other services at SickKids, such as Orthopaedic Surgery, Dermatology, Ophthalmology, Endocrinology and Psychiatry, may be recommended. 

More information: 

Visit Division of Rheumatology 

Coming to a clinic appointment

It's important to come prepared and be on time for a clinic appointment. Visit Coming for Clinic Appointments to read appointment guidelines that are applicable for most clinical appointments at SickKids.

You’ll find information on how to prepare and what to bring, what to do if you/your child are sick before your appointment or you need to cancel,  and important things to know about the SickKids philosophy.

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