I have received my referral materials. How can I send these materials for a pre-adoption evaluation?
You can email, do a combination of email (photos) and fax (medical history + submission form), or ship (via UPS, Fed Ex, etc.) your referral materials to us and one of our international adoption medicine professionals will contact you for a preadoption consultation within 1-3 business days. Click here for more detailed information on this process..
Can Dr. Dana Johnson review my referral information?
Dr Johnson is available to do preadoption consultations 90% of the time. When he is unavailable, one of our other skilled, experienced staff will be happy to review your materials. All of our staff have at least 15 years of experience working with international adoptees.
Do I need to pre-register or make an appointment to have my evaluation done?
No. Once you get your referral, follow the submission instructions. If you will be traveling abroad on a blind referral, please complete a submission form (Word) (PDF) prior to your departure, including your travel dates and the dates you expect to be in the orphanage, and send the form to us. Travelers should also review the materials in the Travelers' Packet.
With what countries does the IAC have experience?
Most. Our clinic was established in 1986, the first clinic of its kind in the United States, and we have therefore reviewed medical records from all over the world. These countries include, but are not necessarily exclusive to: Brazil, Bulgaria, Chile, China, Columbia, El Salvador, Ethiopia, Guatemala, Haiti, Honduras, India, Jamaica, Kazakhstan, Korea, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Morocco, Nepal, Paraguay, Peru, Philippines, Romania, Russia, Ukraine and Vietnam.
What is the Clinic staff’s availability?
Our business office is open Monday - Friday, 8:00a to 4:30p CST, except University of Minnesota holidays. We see children in clinic Tuesday - Friday mornings (appointments available till 12 noon). Please call 612-624-1164 if you have questions about individual staff availability during a given time.
Is the International Adoption Clinic an adoption agency?
No, we do not place children. We are a resource for families, providing for the health needs of internationally adopted children through our clinic services, research and education.
Which adoption agency should I use?
While we are unable to recommend an agency, we do recommend two resources to help you make a decision. First is the annual Adoption Guide from the publishers of Adoptive Families Magazine. Second, many adoptive parents use online message boards and chat rooms where you can learn about the experiences of others families. No one agency has "healthier" referrals than others. Before you commit to an agency, you should have an understanding of the time frame you will be given to make a decision once you get a referral, and you should feel comfortable with the agency's relationships with the authorities abroad and their ability to be a good advocate for you while you try to collect information about your referred child.
Which country has the healthiest adoptable children?
There is no simple answer to this question. We have evaluated referrals from countries all over the world--from Europe, Asia, Africa and South America. From all of these countries we have seen referrals for both healthy children and those with special needs. A child's growth and development depends on many factors, including the care they receive before adoption. This care differs from child to child, not country to country. Can you find a child in any country that will thrive under your love and care? The answer is yes. Choosing a country will be based on a number of factors including your personal preferences, family situation and availability of adoptable children.
What age child should I adopt?
The sooner a child leaves an orphanage, the better. With a very young child, however, there is some risk that the child may have issues not possible to diagnose at an early age. The decision relies somewhat on the level of risk you are willing to assume, but the statistics that our staff have collected show that, by a large margin, parents who have the medical information reviewed by a medical professional (any medical professional) have higher satisfaction rates with the adoption (including the health of the child) than parents who don't. So, as long as you find a reliable professional to review the information, and you logically assess their opinion, you will gain a better understanding of the health risks of that child and will be able to decide whether you have the resources to provide what that child needs.
Do you prescribe medicine for travel abroad?
No. Please consult with your primary care physician about taking prescription medications with you for your child. For your own health care needs or for travel recommendations to different countries, consult the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) web site, or a travel clinic in your area.
When will I be able to speak to someone if I have a question when I am abroad?
Our office hours are 8:00-4:30pm (CST) Monday through Friday. Unfortunately, our staff's availability is limited to our business hours, since they have a number of other responsibilities to balance in their remaining time. If you are concerned about the possibility of needing to speak to someone on the weekend or during the day in the country you're in, you might want to solicit the help of another doctor who provides more comprehensive service. Locate a physician at another international adoption clinic
Can my child be seen in your clinic when they arrive home?
We would be happy to see your child in clinic, and are able to schedule an initial clinic appointment within 2-3 weeks of their arrival home. Please call 612-624-1164 to make that appointmen, and please have your insurance card handy. For immunizations and other immediate health needs, we recommend you visit your regular pediatrician.
Will my insurance cover the clinic visit, and do we need a referral from a primary care doctor?
Most insurances will cover your visits to the International Adoption Clinic. However, we recommend you contact them in advance of the appointment just to make sure. Call your insurance company directly and ask them about getting coverage for a comprehensive evaluation for your adopted child at a specialty clinic. You may also speak with our financial counselor at 612-625-8921.
I need a copy of my child's IAC records. How can I obtain these?
It is your right to have access to your child's medical records. Because of HIPAA, the government's privacy regulations on health information, we need to ensure that we have a signed release of information authorization before we send the records to you or to your designated pediatrician.
If your child was recently seen, you probably signed this document at your clinic visit. If you have not yet received the clinic letter and you need the records for another doctor appointment, call and let us know. The nurse practitioner who saw your child can have the records released and will want to know your child is being seen in case she feels it is important to discuss the case with the physician. We can resend the clinic letter to you or the primary physician listed on the letter at any time.
If a release of information form was not signed, your child was not seen within the last year, or a new facility needs the information, your request must be made in writing and directed to Health Information Management (H.I.M.) Services at the University of Minnesota Medical Center, Fairview. More simply, you can complete the Release of Information Form and fax it to the number indicated.
More information about HIPAA (US Department of Health and Human Services)
More information about the University of Minnesota Medical Center's Privacy Policy
If you have further questions, please contact us by e-mail or call the IAC business office at 612-624-1164.
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