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Milwaukee NICU

HOPE developmental follow-up

About us

HOPE stands for Healthy Outcomes Post-ICU Engagement

HOPE developmental follow-up provides follow-up care for babies who need special care after birth and are at risk for developmental delays or have ongoing medical problems.

This clinic is very important during the child’s first three years — when he or she is growing quickly and learning many new skills. Parents or doctors can refer a baby to the clinic.

About your baby's first visit

Babies should have their first follow-up visit at age 6 months (from their due date). This visit takes place in the multidisciplinary clinic at Children’s Wisconsin - Milwaukee Campus in Craig Yabuki Tower. 

Follow-up visits

Subsequent visits will be scheduled every six to 12 months until the child is 3 years old. These visits also takes place in the multidisciplinary clinic at Children’s Wisconsin - Milwaukee Campus in Craig Yabuki Tower. 

At each visit, we will assess the baby’s development, motor skills and mental abilities. We pay special attention to your child's growth, feeding, nutrition, behavior and hearing. If we find a developmental delay, we refer the baby to services like the Birth to 3 Program that will work with the family and help the baby develop.

Our specialists 

The neonatal developmental follow-up (HOPE) is led by Susan Cohen, MD, neonatologist and medical director. Medical care in the clinic is also provided by pediatricians, Laurel Bear, MD and Katie Carlton, MD and Emily Patek, APNP. All providers have a special interest in developmental outcomes. Care coordination from our NICU to or neonatal developmental follow up is supported by Carrie Burns, RN. The team also collaborates with providers from the following subspecialties:

  • Audiologists (hearing specialists)
  • Nutrition
  • Physical and occupational therapy
  • Psychology 
  • Social work 
  • Speech pathology

Parenting resources

Below are developmental parenting resources provided by our team.

Contact us

Contact the HOPE Developmental Follow-up Clinic:

(414) 266-6898