Interdisciplinary Collaboration in a Pediatric Urology Outpatient Clinic at a Tertiary Children's Hospital: A Case Series

Objective To increase awareness and understanding of how psychology, social work, and child life specialties can integrate into interdisciplinary pediatric urology care. To advocate for increased access to psychology, social work, and child life specialty care in other pediatric urology care centers. Methods Authors participated in a series of discussion groups to develop the aim and goals for this study and identify patients that would best exemplify the interdisciplinary nature of care provided. Initially, fifteen patients were selected; further focused discussion groups supported the selection of 6 patients that are described in this study. Results Authors present a series of 6 case studies aimed to illustrate the interdisciplinary support available to pediatric urology patients in 1 tertiary care center. Cases review a range of presenting issues, including a patient learning clean intermittent catheterization (CIC), a patient resistant to surgical intervention, patients with bowel and bladder dysfunction, a patient undergoing voiding cystourethrogram (VCUG), and a patient with urinary frequency, all of whom presented with a range of psychosocial needs that impacted their urological treatment. Conclusion Access to a psychosocial support staff can improve adherence to medical treatment by reducing barriers to care and promoting behavioral change, support patients in coping and reducing post-traumatic stress following surgery and invasive procedures, improve communication between patients, families, and medical staff, and treat psychological issues that contribute to urinary symptoms. Additional literature exploring how these interventions reduce costs associated with medical intervention, hospitalizations, outpatient visits, emergency visits, and sedation for procedures would be beneficial.