The American
Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP) believes that all children,
particularly children with special health care needs, should have a
medical home where health care services are accessible,
family-centered, continuous, comprehensive, coordinated, compassionate,
and culturally competent.
Our Medical Home
Coordinator, Hannah Vereker, will be taking an active
role in helping us to coordinate the care of our patients with special
health care needs and to ensure that all of our patients receive care
in the manner described above. Please let Hannah know if she can be of
help to your family in coordinating medical care or other medically
related needs.
How
do I know if my child
has
a “special health care need?”
Children and youth with
special health care needs are recognized to be
those from birth to 21 years old who:
have a chronic
physical, developmental,
behavioral or emotional
condition expected to last 12 months or more, and
need health and
related services more than most
children,
may receive these services
from various public and private
agencies
and providers in the areas of health, education, and social
services,
and, as a result of complex
conditions and many different
providers,
may need help in coordinating this care.
This includes children and youth with
chronic medical
conditions or
genetic disorders such as diabetes, sickle cell anemia, childhood
cancers and heart conditions; developmental disabilities such as mental
retardation, hearing and vision impairments and autism spectrum
disorders; as well as emotional or behavioral health needs including
ADHD and mental health conditions; and physical disabilities such as
cerebral palsy, spina bifida, or muscular dystrophy.
February 25 meeting hosting the Framingham School nurses at Framingham Pediatrics
