Cleft Lip and Palate Program

If you do not have a referral from your referring physician, you may be asked to reschedule your appointment or to sign a waiver assuming responsibility for payment of your visit.

How long will my child's appointment take?

Traffic and parking in the Longwood Medical Area can take quite a bit of time. It is a very congested area. Take this into account both in arriving for your appointment on time and when leaving to go home.

The length of the visit may vary depending on where your child needs to go. There could be many stops depending on what your child needs to have done. These may include audiology, dentistry, plastic surgery, and speech and language pathology. Each of these stops requires a separate wait and adds to the length of your visit.

Plan to be at Children's for approximately two to four hours.

What if I see a family who arrived after me called in to the exam room before my family?

Remember that there may be several providers in session at a time. The family who arrived after you may be seeing a different provider than you are. Also, patients are seen by the time of their appointments and are not called in the order of when they arrive. Keep in mind the family who arrived after you may have their appointment scheduled before your child's scheduled time.

What's happens at the first visit?

You will meet with several members of the Cleft Lip and Palate team during your visit. Specialists may include an audiologist, dentist, orthodontist, nurse, plastic surgeon, and speech and language pathologist. Each specialist will meet with you and your child individually to review your child's medical history and perform a specialized physical exam.

How do I reschedule an appointment?

To cancel and reschedule appointments, call 617-355-6309.

You may receive copies of your films. However, you must go through the Children's Hospital Boston film library. They may require a fee depending on the number of copies you need. Contact the film library to order your requests at 617-355-6283.

Can I receive copies of my child's medical records?

You can request copies of your child's medical records online or by calling 617-355-7546.

I have several questions about my child's hospital bill, who should I call?

Call our Patient Billing office at 617-355-3397.

If my child needs surgery, how soon will I be able to schedule a date?

A surgery will be scheduled for your child based on the severity of the need for surgery and the availability of the surgeon. Once the necessary paperwork is filled out for the surgery, the surgical coordinator will arrange a date for your child.

To schedule a surgery call 617-355-6309.

Is there a place in the hospital where I can learn more about my child's condition?

The Center for Families at Children's Hospital Boston is dedicated to helping families find the information and resources they need to understand their medical condition and take part in their care. In some instances they may be able to connect you with other families in a similar situation. The center is open Monday-Friday from 8 am to 7 pm, and on Saturday from 9 am to 1 pm.

You can also find more information on your child's condition and links to family support groups on our Helpful Links page.

What is a Resident and a Fellow? Are they doctors?

Yes, residents and fellows are doctors.

A resident is someone who has finished medical school and has completed at least a one to four year training program.

A fellow is someone who has finished their residency program and they are specializing in a particular field such as pediatric plastic surgery or pediatric dentistry. The fellowship program lasts for one year.

Where can I get my parking ticket validated and how much will it be?

Patients and their parents or guardians are eligible to have parking tickets validated at the Reception and Information Desk in the Main Lobby, at Outpatient Registration in the Pavilion Lobby, or at Emergency Services. With validation, the cost is a maximum of $8 for 24 hours or one exit.

Do you offer valet parking and how much does it cost?

Valet parking is available, Monday through Friday, 6 am to 8:30 pm for an additional $3 above the parking fee.