What is a Nurse Practitioner?

A Nurse Practitioner, or NP, is a registered nurse with advanced education, training and experience necessary to perform patient care duties comparable to those of physician. For instance, NPs are able to provide diagnostic assessments and prescribe treatments. NPs are trained in a specialized area and have higher education degrees (Master’s or Doctoral degrees). Like physicians, NPs are licensed in the state(s) in which they practice and maintain clinical competency through ongoing education and professional development.

What is the role of a developmental provider (Physician or NP)?

Developmental and behavioral pediatrics (DBP) is a branch of pediatrics that addresses the physical, emotional, behavioral and social development of children and adolescents. DBP involves understanding that diverse behaviors come from diverse minds and that mental health and learning are critical to helping children and adolescents reach their full potential.

The DBP approach is interdisciplinary. It includes educators, psychologists, speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physical therapists and other professionals who are also involved in evaluating and treating kids who struggle with a wide array of challenges ranging from learning and attention problems, to feeding and toilet-training issues, to developmental disabilities like autism. Young minds depend on the support of their families and communities, so this collaborative effort is important.

Are you in network with insurance companies?

At this time, Bright Futures Development is not participating in health insurance plans and would be considered an out-of-network provider. Payment is due in full at the time of your visit. We would be happy to provide a receipt and paperwork for you to submit to your insurance plan for reimbursement. It is your responsibility to check with your health insurance plan, prior to your appointment, to ascertain your expected reimbursement. Please contact your insurance company, as many plans are covering developmental assessments even if we are out of network, due to the fact that there are few providers in this area.

How long do appointments last and what should I bring?

Appointments can last up to 2 hours depending on the complexity of concerns. Please complete all new patient paperwork ahead of the appointment, found here and submit via the link you were provided after scheduling. If your child has had a previous evaluation by a developmental provider, therapist or other specialist, please bring any reports you may have. Additionally, any school documents should be sent ahead of time. These can include the individualized education plan (IEP), a Section 504 plan or other child study team evaluations.

What can I expect at the appointment?

Since all children are different, we individualize our assessments. But, typical evaluations include getting detailed information on the concerns, background history, medical history, etc. If the child is old enough, they will wait in the waiting room during this portion of the exam. It is advised to bring a hand held game or something to keep them occupied during this time. After that, the child will meet with the NP. This part of the evaluation involves interview, behavior observation and developmental testing. It is generally not recommended to be in the same room as your child during testing except when the child is young or has significant difficulty in separation or transitioning. This will be determined at the time of the visit. If requested, provider may meet with parents privately for a few minutes and then provider explains understanding and recommendations.