How to Make an Appointment at CHOC

We strive to make the process as easy as possible for your child to be seen at CHOC and offer the following guidelines to assist you.

Primary Care

Community Pediatrician

We provide general pediatric care for all kids—from babies to teens—through the CHOC Primary Care Network. Our network of pediatricians includes offices throughout Orange County and beyond that offer well-checks, immunizations, sick visits, sports physicals and more.

To schedule an appointment with a pediatrician, simply call a primary care location near you.

Specialty Care

If your child needs specialty care, it is important for your child’s primary care doctor to be involved, so they can manage your child’s overall medical care and ensure all their needs are being met. For this reason, appointments with a CHOC specialist require a referral from your child’s primary care doctor (pediatrician).

To make a referral, please ask your child’s doctor to provide us the following:

  • An authorization from your insurance company
  • Pertinent medical records for your child
  • A referral request form if needed.

Please do not submit this information yourself. We do not accept self-referrals. Note that a separate referral is required for each type of specialist at CHOC.

Once all documentation has been received, we will call you to schedule your child’s appointment. If you have any questions, please call the Patient Access Center at 888-770-2462 and select “Specialty Care.”

Please note: Some of our specialties have significant demand for services from children in the community. While it is our goal to see every patient who is referred to CHOC, all referrals are reviewed by our specialists to determine whether a child needs our level of care or may be more appropriately treated by his or her primary care doctor.

Testing and Surgery

Various tests are available at CHOC that require a doctor’s order and insurance authorization. After you have received an order from your child’s doctor, please call the appropriate department to schedule your child’s test:

  • Radiology (X-ray, MRI, CT, fluoroscopy, ultrasound): 888-770-2462, select “Radiology”
  • Laboratory (blood test, urine test, stool test): 714-509-3132
  • Neurodiagnostics (EEG, EMG, NCV, evoked potentials study, sleep study): 714-509-8651
  • Cardiodiagnostics (EKG, stress test, echocardiogram): 888-770-2462, select “Heart Center”

All surgeries at CHOC are scheduled through your child’s surgeon’s office. If you have any questions about your child’s surgery, please contact the surgeon’s office directly.

Emergency and Trauma Services

An appointment is not needed in the case of an emergency.

If your child needs immediate medical attention, please call 911 or visit the nearest emergency room. The CHOC Emergency Department is located at 1201 W. La Veta Ave., Orange, CA, 92868.

If you have any questions about scheduling an appointment at CHOC, please call our Patient Access Center at 888-770-2462.