COAST Clinic
Communication, Occupational and Sensory Treatment at Bradley Hospital

COAST Clinic Frequently Asked Questions

How Does Sensory Processing Affect Children?

Occupational therapist Jane Cancilliere discusses sensory processing issues and how they may affect a child’s daily activity and function.

Contact the COAST Clinic

To make a referral or to learn more about our services, please call 401-432-1119.

Choose from the questions below to learn more about the Communication, Occupational and Sensory Treatment (COAST) Clinic at Bradley Hospital.

If I think my child needs occupational therapy or speech-language pathology services, what’s my first step?

Discuss your concerns with your child’s primary care provider and ask him or her for a referral to a specialist.

Why do I need a referral?

We need a written or electronic referral from your child’s physician, certified nurse practitioner, psychologist, or psychiatrist before we can do an evaluation.

Once my referral is sent, what can I expect?

Our office will contact you to do an initial phone screening, obtain copies of previous evaluations and school records, and mail you a packet to complete. When we receive this completed packet from you, we will schedule your initial evaluation with one of our therapists. 

What can I expect at my child’s evaluation?

Your child’s initial evaluation with the therapist may take 45 to 90 minutes. Please arrive 15 minutes early to register so that your child can receive the full benefit of your scheduled time with our therapist. He or she will perform appropriate assessment(s) based on your and your primary care provider’s concerns.

Based on the evaluation, our therapist will work with you and your child to determine a plan of care tailored to your child’s needs, including recommended frequency and duration of therapy sessions. We will share our findings with your child’s referral source. If follow-up treatment is needed, our front-desk staff will work with you to schedule appointments.

How long will my child need therapy?

The therapy plan is customized to each patient. During each visit, your child’s therapist will work with you to identify your priorities so that we may develop specific, meaningful, and measurable goals. The goals will focus on improving participation in particular activities at home and in the community, and will determine the timeline for therapy.

What should my child wear to the appointments?

He or she should wear socks, sneakers, and comfortable clothes to move around in easily.

I filled out the history form the last time my child was here for an evaluation. Is it necessary to do it again if my child has a new evaluation?

Yes, it is important to provide the most current information. Please plan to arrive 15 minutes before the appointment time to fill out paperwork.

Can I be in the room for my child’s evaluation and/or treatment?

We require caregivers to be present for the evaluation and encourage involvement in follow-up sessions. Caregivers must be in the therapy room or in the waiting room during the treatment session.

Will my insurance cover my child’s therapy?

There are many different health insurance plans and providers. Please speak to our front desk to discuss coverage questions or concerns.

How long are follow-up appointments?

Follow-up treatment sessions last about 45 minutes based on the plan of care and your child’s needs.

Can I reschedule/cancel my appointment?

If you need to reschedule or cancel your appointment, please call 401-432-1119 as soon as possible. You can also cancel appointments using your MyLifespan account. Twenty-four hours’ notice is expected so that we can offer the appointment to another patient.

Please remember that if you consistently miss appointments, your child won’t receive optimal benefits from his or her therapy. Our policy states that therapy will be discontinued if two consecutive appointments are missed without notice.

Learn more about outpatient services at Bradley Hospital »