Patients are referred to our craniofacial and ENT teams from different healthcare providers ( e.g. primary health care centers, central hospitals, other university hospitals, other specialties within HUH, private practitioners). At the HUH clinics, all referrals related to craniofacial anomalies or ENT disorders are directed to the physicians treating such patients. Foreign patients are referred either via HYKSin Ltd. or via direct consultations to specified physicians or clinics.

Helsinki University Hospital (HUH) has had since 1948 an interdisciplinary team for craniofacial anomalies (Cleft and Craniofacial Centre, Department of Plastic Surgery) It takes care of the whole variety of pathologies within the field of craniofacial anomalies. We treat patients of any age. We have both pediatric and adult medicine experts that work as a unified program to ensure continuity of care for our patients. The Cleft and Craniofacial team offers expertise in plastic and maxillofacial surgery, ENT, orthodontics, prosthetics, anesthesiology, radiology, speech therapy, neurosurgery , pulmonologist, social work, special nursing. The Department of Otorhinolaryngology has a dedicated multidisciplinary team treating rare ENT disorders collaborating with the Cleft and Craniofacial centre.

Genetic testing and consultations of all related specialties is offered ( psychology, psychiatry, ophtalmology, pediatrics etc.) as well as physiotherapy guidance. Treatment is organised together with regional hospitals and the national primary health care system if needed.

Rare craniofacial anomalies and ENT disorders are treated following agreed, unified treatment protocols. An interdisciplinary expert team will assess patient diagnostics and treatment without a need to visit several clinics. Treatment is based on harmonized treatment practices for patients with these anomalies and disorders. These have been locally produced by HUH physicians familiar with the treatment of craniofacial anomalies and and ENT disorders further based on visits to international reference hospitals and available research data.

We have multidisciplinary team meetings weekly. We discuss the treatment protocols and also individual treatment plans in difficult cases. We use international consultations if necessary. We have bi-weekly patient meetings with neurosurgeons, where we plan treatments to come and share the opinions of treatments done.The implementation of treatment is planned in cooperation with the patient and/or guardians.

Furthermore, our program also places special emphasis at the acquisition and provision of continuous medical education for our experts and junior doctors to ensure maintenance of expertise, continuity and quality of care in all circumstances. Emphasis is also given to research to ensure timely changes to practices, when needed.International collaboration, clinical visits etc. are an integral part of both Craniofacial and ENT teams.