Diagnostic Referral Service

Ambulatory Consultation Service
The Paul C. Gaffney Diagnostic Referral Service helps families and supports primary care physicians by identifying a child’s specialized medical needs while coordinating the best possible advanced treatment. The service is staffed by full-time physicians with special interest in the diagnostic challenges of general pediatrics, who specialize in multisystem diseases, complex single-system problems and basic pediatric problems. Based at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC, they serve as a consultative service for physicians whose patients have complex diagnoses.

They have years of experience in diagnosing and managing a wide variety of the most complex pediatric medical conditions. That experience complements the referring physician’s knowledge of the patient and provides a fresh perspective on what may be a challenging diagnosis and management.

The Diagnostic Referral Service provides rapid access to a complete range of services within Children’s Hospital, including all subspecialty services and technologically advanced equipment and facilities.

Hospitalist Program
Members of the Diagnostic Referral Service are hospitalists for general pediatric patients whose pediatricians choose not to round at Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh of UPMC.  The Diagnostic Referral Service also manages a short-stay unit within Children’s whose purpose is to provide focused, rapid treatment for patients with simple diagnoses whose estimated stay is six to 48 hours.  

Referral Requirements

Referrals are required from primary care physicians or other Children’s Hospital specialty services. Referrals for patients enrolled in managed care insurance plans also may require authorization from the insurance provider and primary care physician. All necessary referral and authorization forms must be received before the patient’s visit. For accurate provider numbers or more information, please call the office number.