Care coordination for children with medical complexity.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: We review the literature to help the reader better understand the latest thinking on how best to identify, coordinate and fund care for children with medical complexity, a medically fragile high-cost subpopulation of children and youth with special healthcare needs.

RECENT FINDINGS: Proprietary and public algorithms have been developed to identify children with medical complexity. Research on families and healthcare providers of children with medical complexity have identified essential components of effective care coordination. Calculation of the cost of care for this population is confounded by cost shifting to families and the variable course of illness in this heterogeneous high-cost population. Care coordination is a team sport that requires strong family partnerships, adequate time and resources to be done effectively. Multiple studies of different sizes have reported similar care coordination team structure, staffing ratios and cost ranges. Multiple options for funding this work now exist and can be tailored to individual environments.

SUMMARY: Effective care coordination can positively impact the care of children with medical complexity. Recent work resulting in a better understanding of the needs of families and providers will guide the development of new technologies and measures.