The Aerodigestive Program (ADP) at Children's of Alabama serves the complex medical needs of children with airway, respiratory, gastrointestinal and feeding concerns. The program's main purpose is to improve the lives of children with complex medical issues through improved care coordination. We combine the expertise of pediatric subspecialists (ENT, Pulmonary, GI and Feeding, Pediatric Surgery, and other subspecialties) to develop coordinated care plans with multidisciplinary follow-up. We strive to improve the care experience and provide optimized health outcomes.
Our program uniquely brings together pediatric subspecialty physicians and health professionals to comprehensively evaluate and manage complex airway, feeding or nutritional difficulties.
The coordinated care provided by the ADP will streamline the medical process, coordinating procedures and clinical evaluation with a collaboratively developed care plan. The ADP brings together a comprehensive medical team to organize your child's individualized care plan.
We provide the only Aerodigestive program in Alabama and one of very few that are available nationally. In the near future, we will also be providing the only Intensive Feeding Program in the State of Alabama. We provide subspecialty therapists who offer a spectrum of services that are necessary in the care of children with complex airway and nutritional symptoms. After being referred to the Aerodigestive Clinic, your child will be seen by a multidisciplinary team consisting of pulmonary specialists and/or gastrointestinal specialists to create a personalized treatment plan to meet the comprehensive needs of the child.
Making a referral to the Aerodigestive Program.
To make a referral to the ADC, email Ashley Chapman at ashley.chapman@childrensal.org or call her at 205-638-3447. Your child's medical history will be discussed at our joint Aerodigestive conference meeting and a care plan developed. We will request that you send us all relevant medical records regarding the care of your child. These can be sent by mail or faxed to 205-638-2460. Our mailing address is:
Children's of Alabama
1600 7th Avenue South
Birmingham, AL 35233
Attn: Ashley Chapman
We also request that all radiologic imaging be sent to us on a CD for our specialists to review. Depending on your child's needs, we will schedule appointments with our otolaryngologists, pulmonologists and gastroenterologists. Other appointments with specialists will be coordinated if needed.
Our Aerodigestive clinic is held the 1st and 3rd Friday of the month in Clinic 10.
Directions to 7th Avenue Parking Deck.
Some of the medical symptoms that benefit from Aerodigestive care coordination?
Triple Endoscopy
The physicians may determine that your child needs further, more extensive, assessment of their symptoms. The team will then refer your child for a triple endoscopy (Direct Laryngoscopy Bronchoscopy, Flexible Bronchoscopy and Esophagogastroduodenoscopy) which is performed under general anesthesia, by an ENT surgeon, Pulmonologist, and Gastroenterologist in an operating room setting. After the procedure, the team will discuss the findings and will determine what course of action needs to be taken.
Ashley Chapman (Clinic Coordinator) 205-638-3447 will be your Aerodigestive Program contact support. She will work with you to coordinate the treatment plan and assist you throughout your child's treatment.
