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about the center
The Children's Evaluation and Rehabilitation Center (CERC) at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine provides a broad spectrum of clinical services for infants, children, and adolescents and, despite its name, adults, with problems that include physical, developmental, language and learning disabilities.
One of the largest centers of its kind in the United States, CERC is a voluntary, nonsectarian agency whose services are essential components of the care available in New York City and New York State to all children with developmental disabilities. CERC's professional staff provides over 58,000 diagnostic, therapeutic and related services to about 8,000 children and their families annually, while training close to 1,000 professionals each year.
CERC is a major component of the Rose F. Kennedy University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities Education, Research and Service (UCEDD), one of 67 designated regional centers that are federally funded to conduct interdisciplinary training, provide exemplary clinical services, furnish technical assistance, carry out research in the field of mental retardation and developmental disabilities, and create a bridge between universities and the community through various outreach and dissemination activities, and by direct consumer involvement.
More than 130 health-care professionals staff CERC's programs. They include:
- Neurodevelopmental Pediatricians
- Developmental-Behavioral Pediatricians
- Pediatric Neurologists
- Physiatrists (Rehabilitation Medicine Specialists)
- Psychiatrists
- Ophthalmologists
- Orthopedic Surgeons
- Otolaryngologists (Ear, Nose and Throat Specialists)
- Dentists
- Psychologists
- Learning Disabilities Specialists
- Speech and Language Pathologists
- Social Workers
- Pediatric Nurse Practitioners
- Occupational and Physical Therapists
- Audiologists
- Nutritionists
- Geneticists
These highly trained and well qualified specialists provide comprehensive diagnostic assessment and treatment through a variety of interdisciplinary and specialized programs at CERC. These are briefly described on the following pages.
Clinical Services
Patients may be referred to CERC by private physicians, managed care organizations, clinics, schools, community service agencies, parents, and in the case of adults, by self-referral. Residents of New York City who are not covered by Medicaid or other insurance are charged on a sliding fee scale based on income and family size. Patients who live outside New York City who are not covered by New York State Medicaid are charged full fees.
Diagnosis and treatment planning is made jointly by the evaluating clinicians, with input from parents and guardians. When applicable, with parental consent, information is shared with referring clinicians and/or preschools, schools and community agencies. Follow-up services are also available to all clients and their families.