Caring for Medically Complex Children in the Outpatient Setting

Advances in neonatal, pediatric, and surgical care have led to the survival of a greater number of children with special health care needs who are cared for at home [1]. In the United States, approximately 1 in 25 children are considered children with medical complexity (CMC), and this population is expected to double in the next decade [2]. Due to the growing need for comprehensive care for these children, expanding and improving outpatient pediatric complex care services is necessary. This article reviews strategies and tools for identifying CMC and their degree of complexity, discusses different outpatient complex clinic models, identifies and evaluates challenges of delivering and managing complex care in the outpatient setting, describes current options for patient and family support, and discusses important transitions of care throughout these children’s lives.