Safety in Children With Medical Complexity: Our Canaries in the Coal Mine?

Purpose of review The goal of this paper is to describe the complicated and diverse safety risks facing children with medical complexity. Recent findings Children with medical complexity have an increased risk of experiencing adverse health outcomes related to multiple comorbidities, the complicated nature of their care, and frequent interactions with the health care system. The safety risks experienced by children with medical complexity are in large part due to the complex nature of their care rather than the specific risks posed by the complicated nature of their illnesses. Summary The complicated nature of care for children with medical complexity certainly highlights the risk of harm within our current health care system. These children highlight the vulnerabilities of our fragmented and often inefficient approach to care.