Pediatrics

Ochsner primary care pediatricians provide care for mild to moderate illness or injuries, including:

• Common colds

• Coughing or wheezing

• Cuts and scrapes

• Ear infections

• Flu

• Fever

• Nausea or vomiting

• Pink eye

• Rashes or skin infections

• Sore throat

• Viruses

Our primary care pediatricians also offer:

• Developmental screenings

• Immunizations (shots)

• Ongoing care and monitoring of ongoing conditions, such as allergies, asthma, diabetes and seizure disorders

• Sports physicals

• Well-child visits

Many Ochsner pediatric clinics also offer specialized mental healthcare for children in the same office as their pediatrician.

Schedule an appointment

Many Ochsner pediatric care locations offer extended hours, same-day appointments or virtual visits. We also offer appointments for parents and parents-to-be to help you find the right doctor for your child and family.

Ochsner offers expert pediatric care in more than 30 specialty and subspecialty areas:

• Michael R. Boh Center for Child Development: This center offers complete care for children and adolescents with behavioral disorders, developmental disabilities, intellectual disabilities and physical disabilities. In addition to medical services, the Boh Center provides educational resources, therapy services and specialized programs, including clinics focused exclusively on the following:

  • Autism

  • Down syndrome

  • Neuromuscular spasticity

  • Pediatric feeding and swallowing disorders

• Pediatric cardiology: U.S. News & World Report ranks the Ochsner pediatric cardiology program among the top programs in the United States. We offer a wide range of diagnostic and treatment options for children and adolescents with heart and cardiovascular conditions. We were the first in the Gulf South to perform pediatric valve replacement surgery and the first and only in the region to offer pediatric heart transplants.

• Pediatric liver transplant program: Ochsner is home to the most extensive and thorough pediatric liver transplant program in the region. In addition to offering state-of-the-art surgical procedures, our collaborative liver transplant team provides holistic physical and mental healthcare for our young patients and their families.

• Pediatric sports medicine: Ochsner offers sports medicine care to patients starting at 18 months. Our primary care pediatric sports medicine physician, Olabode Agaja, DO, is specially trained in pediatric care. Pediatric injuries we care for include:

  • Concussion

  • Knee, hip and lower back pain

  • Knee ligament injuries

  • Little league elbow and shoulder

  • Shoulder and other bone dislocation

Ochsner Children's Hospital is a specialized pediatric medical center housed within the Ochsner Medical Center - New Orleans on Jefferson Highway. The hospital offers:

• Dedicated Pediatric ER

• Level IV regional neonatal intensive care unit, the highest level of care available in Louisiana

• Level I pediatric intensive care unit, the highest level of care available

• Pediatric acute care unit

• Pediatric bone marrow unit

• Pediatric cardiovascular intensive care unit

• Pediatric epilepsy monitoring unit

Ochsner Children's Hospital's care team includes Certified Child Life Specialists, a team of experts who focus on helping children and families navigate through the complex feelings and situations that may come with illness, injury or hospitalization.

Food, lodging and shopping are close by for children and families who need to stay close to Ochsner Children's Hospital for multiple days or weeks. Lodging options include Ochsner’s Brent House Hotel, the nearby Ronald McDonald House and several local hotels with discounted rates for families receiving care at Ochsner.

Ochsner Pediatrics provides more than individualized, expert care. We also offer a regional healthcare network with more than 25 locations throughout Louisiana, Mississippi and the Gulf South to meet all of your family’s needs.

If you move to another part of the region or need to add a specialist to your child’s care team, Ochsner’s network of doctors makes the change seamless.

When adolescents and young adults are ready to transition from pediatric to adult-focused care, the collaborative care network at Ochsner makes it easy to switch to another Ochsner doctor, and the new doctor will have immediate access to your child’s medical records. All your child will need to do is make an appointment.

Ochsner Children's was the first facility in Louisiana to perform:

• Implantation of ventricular assist devices in pediatric patients

• In-utero surgeries

• Pediatric heart transplants

• Pediatric liver transplants

• Pediatric valve replacements

We remain the only facility in the area to offer pediatric heart transplants and other advanced heart procedures for babies and children, and we continue to have the largest pediatric liver transplant program in Louisiana.

Additionally, Ochsner Children's remains at the forefront of innovation in pediatrics through ongoing participation in research and clinical trials.

To make the most of your visits, it’s helpful to:

• Keep a log of milestones and any concerns about your child’s health or behavior.
• Bring a list of questions to discuss with the pediatrician.
• Update your child’s immunization records.
• Prepare your child by discussing the visit in positive and age-appropriate terms.

Clear communication with your pediatrician creates a collaborative environment that prioritizes your child’s well-being.

By staying informed and actively involved in your child’s health and development, you’re giving them the strongest foundation for a healthy, happy future.

Well-child visits are typically recommended every few months during a child’s first 18 months and then annually after the age of two. These regular visits allow pediatricians to track your child’s growth, make sure they're up to date on vaccinations and detect any potential health or developmental issues early.

Pediatricians also use these appointments to address parental concerns and offer guidance on nutrition, sleep, education and overall wellness.

Early childhood development milestones are key behaviors or skills that most children achieve by specific ages. These milestones include physical, cognitive, social, and language development. For example:

• Physical milestones: Rolling over, crawling, walking
• Cognitive milestones: Recognizing familiar faces, solving simple problems like stacking blocks
• Social milestones: Smiling at others, playing with peers
• Language milestones: Babbling, saying their first words, forming sentences

While every child develops at their own pace, tracking milestones can help parents recognize progress and identify potential developmental concerns early.

If your child is not meeting certain milestones within the expected timeframe, it’s essential to speak with your pediatrician. Developmental delays are not uncommon, and early intervention often leads to better outcomes. A healthcare provider can conduct assessments and recommend resources like therapy or developmental programs to support your child’s growth. You may also be referred to the Michael R. Boh Center for Childhood Development.

The vaccination schedule for children is carefully designed to protect them from serious diseases at various stages of development. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that vaccinations begin at birth and continue through adolescence. Vaccines are grouped by age, starting with the Hepatitis B vaccine for newborns, followed by vaccines for Diphtheria, Tetanus, Pertussis (DTaP), Polio, Measles, Mumps and Rubella (MMR), among others.

It’s important to consult with your pediatrician, as they will provide a personalized vaccination timetable for your child, ensuring they are protected based on the latest guidelines and their unique health needs.