Why choose Ochsner Children’s Health Center - Meridian?

Ochsner Children's Health Center - Meridian provides exceptional care for children from birth through their teenage years for patients in Meridian, Mississippi. Our commitment is to partner with families to support the health and well-being of every child. We combine the expertise of our experienced pediatric team with a warm, family-friendly environment, ensuring your child receives the personalized attention they deserve.

Choosing the right healthcare partner for your child is a significant decision. We are a trusted leader in pediatric health, committed to delivering expert care with a compassionate touch. Our state-of-the-art facilities are designed for children, and our team of skilled pediatricians, nurses and support staff works together to create a positive and supportive experience for your family. We focus on building lasting relationships, empowering you with the knowledge and resources to take an active role in your child's health journey.

Our services

We offer a complete range of pediatric services to meet your child's needs at every stage of their development. Our goal is to provide convenient, high-quality care right here in your community.

  • Newborn care: We provide comprehensive care for your newest family member. Our services include thorough newborn check-ups, monitoring of growth and development, and essential guidance for new parents on topics like feeding, sleeping and safety.
  • Well-child visits: Routine well-child visits are fundamental to tracking your child's health. These regular check-ups allow us to monitor physical and developmental milestones, provide preventive care and address any questions you have about your child's growth.
  • Sick visits: When your child is not feeling well, we offer prompt medical attention for a wide range of common illnesses and minor injuries. Our team is here to provide an accurate diagnosis and an effective treatment plan to help your child recover quickly.
  • Immunizations: Vaccinations are one of the most effective ways to protect your child from serious preventable diseases. We follow the immunization schedules recommended by the American Academy of Pediatrics and the Centers for Disease Control, ensuring your child is up to date on their shots.
  • Sports and school physicals: We provide thorough sports and school physical exams to ensure your child is healthy and ready for participation. These physicals meet the requirements for school enrollment and athletic activities.
  • On-site laboratory and X-ray services: For your convenience, we offer on-site diagnostic services, including laboratory testing and X-rays. This allows for faster diagnosis and treatment, saving you a trip to another facility.
  • Early and periodic screening, diagnostic and treatment (EPSDT) screenings: Our early and periodic screening, diagnostic and treatment (EPSDT) services are designed to identify and address health and developmental concerns early. These comprehensive screenings ensure children are meeting important milestones and receive support when needed.
  • Specialty therapy and rehabilitation services: Occupational, physical and speech therapy tailored for kids.
  • Referral for specialty care (when needed): Should your child require more advanced medical attention, we provide seamless coordination and referral to our network of pediatric specialists. We work closely with these experts to ensure your child receives the best possible care.

We offer a multisensory language program that is designed to teach individuals with dyslexia. Research has proven that the sooner we find dyslexia and begin intervention, the better the success. We offer evaluations that help identify if a person has dyslexia. We are available to answer your questions and evaluate and treat individuals with dyslexia.

Call 601-703-4240 to reach The Reading Clinic, which is on the ground floor of Ochsner Rush Ambulatory Care center.

Unmasking Dyslexia

  • One out of every five individuals is faced with a reading problem.
  • Dyslexia affects all genders, races and socioeconomic groups.
  • 75% of children in third grade who are poor readers will be poor readers in high school.
  • Dyslexia is a specific learning disability.
  • Letter reversals are not the main warning sign of dyslexia.
  • Dyslexia does not result from a vision problem.

What Is Dyslexia?

The International Dyslexia Association says dyslexia is a specific learning disability that is neurobiological in origin. It is characterized by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition and by poor spelling and decoding abilities. These difficulties typically result from a deficit in the phonological component of language that is often unexpected in relation to cognitive abilities and the provision of effective classroom instruction. Secondary consequences may include problems in reading comprehension and reduced reading experience that can impede growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.

Warning signs include:

  • Difficulty reading aloud
  • Difficulty spelling words
  • Difficulty with following directions
  • Difficulty with memorization of math facts
  • Difficulty with memorization of alphabet
  • Difficulty recognizing the sounds that letters make
  • Reluctance to read
  • Poor self-esteem
  • Poor handwriting
  • Letter or number reversals

What do I do if I suspect dyslexia?

If you suspect that you or your child might have a problem with reading, then get an evaluation by a professional that specializes in the identification of dyslexia. There is not a single test that will identify this specific type of reading problem. The person will need to be tested in the areas of decoding words, encoding words, reading comprehension, phonemic awareness and achievement. The most important thing is, DO NOT WAIT. Research has proven that the sooner we find dyslexia and begin intervention, the better the success.

What if I find out I have dyslexia?

Once dyslexia has been identified, the most important step is to find a structured, multisensory language program that is designed to teach an individual with dyslexia. For example, a program that is based on the Orton-Gillingham approach would be a great choice. We, at Rush Rehab Center offer this program and are available to answer your questions and evaluate, and treat individuals with reading problems characteristic of dyslexia.

If you need a prescription refill, please call your pharmacy to request it. If your pharmacist has any questions, they will contact Ochsner. Make sure the pharmacy sends your refill request to Ochsner at least three to five working days before you run out of your medication. If we don't get the notice in time, we can't promise your refill will be ready before you use up your current supply.

Unless otherwise directed by your doctor or provider, please call Ochsner On Call, our 24/7 nurse care advice line at 1-800-231-5257, for guidance regarding your symptoms. For emergencies, call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room.

Registered nurses at the Ochsner On Call Center can help determine how soon you should be seen and recommend the best care options for your symptoms.

FAQs

We provide care for children from birth through age 18, offering a continuum of care as they grow from newborns into young adults.

Yes, we accept most major insurance plans. We recommend contacting your insurance provider or our office directly to confirm coverage before your appointment.

You can schedule an appointment by calling our office directly during business hours. For existing patients, appointments can also be scheduled through the MyOchsner patient portal.

Please bring your child’s insurance card, a photo ID for yourself, a list of any current medications and any relevant medical records or school/sports forms that need to be completed. For new patients, arriving a few minutes early to complete paperwork is helpful.

Yes, we understand that children get sick unexpectedly. We offer same-day appointments for established patients with acute illnesses. Please call our office as early in the day as possible to schedule a sick visit.