The Erlanger Cleft and Craniofacial Center has been recognized again for being an American Cleft Palate-Craniofacial Association (ACPA) Approved Team, receiving the Cleft Palate Certification for another five years. Erlanger’s Cleft and Craniofacial team remains the only center in the Chattanooga region to achieve this prestigious status.
The Erlanger Cleft and Craniofacial Center is comprised of a multidisciplinary team that specializes in serving patients with cleft lip, cleft palate, and other craniofacial disorders. The center is one of over 195 approved teams in the U.S. and Canada that have been recognized for meeting the Standards of Team Care for Cleft and Craniofacial Teams.
The ACPA Commission on the Approval of Teams has determined that the Erlanger Cleft and Craniofacial Center is capable of providing cleft and craniofacial care in a coordinated and consistent manner and that care provided by the Erlanger Cleft and Craniofacial Center follows the proper sequence and takes place within the framework of the patient’s overall developmental, medical and psychological needs. The specially trained pediatric experts from plastic surgery, otolaryngology, primary care, speech therapy, audiology, orthodontists, and dentistry work together to create the best plan of action for your child.
“Cleft and Craniofacial care is a vital and necessary service that we are able to provide to our community and the surrounding region,” said Katlin Hodges, nurse practitioner for Erlanger Cleft and Craniofacial Center. “We provide early education when a cleft lip, palate or craniofacial disorder is identified on ultrasound. This care continues from birth to completion of their treatment, usually into the late teenage years up until the patient is in their early 20’s. Our center provides comprehensive care through a Multi-Disciplinary Team approach with providers that are experts in cleft and craniofacial care. This includes multi-disciplinary team visits, treatment plans, surgeries, education, as well as resources for every aspect of the child’s care. We are thankful for our patients, as well as the ACPA for its recognition of our team and the care that we provide to our patients.”