Understanding Medical Care

Your child may require a lot of medical care. You may not have prepared for this before your child’s birth. It can be hard to work with different doctors. It is important for you to have a voice in your child’s care. You will become an expert on your child. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and speak up when you need to. You are an important part of your child’s care team.

• Medical Home
• What is a Medical Home?
• What to Expect from a Medical Home
• Benefits of a Medical Home
• Care Coordination
• Finding Providers Who Are “All-in”

Taking care of a child with complex care needs is a big job.  For many parents and family members, it can feel new and overwhelming.  You may feel very alone. It doesn’t have to be that way. Research has shown that the best health care outcomes happen when patients, their family members, and their providers work together to understand a patient’s needs, consider what works best for each family situation, and make decisions together about treatment plans.  This is called shared decision-making.

You may find yourself in the hospital with your child. This may be a planned visit, or it may be unexpected. While it isn’t always possible to plan ahead, here are some parent suggestions that may help you if your child is hospitalized.

Some medical conditions require your child to use special formula and food. The formula and food may be needed to keep your child healthy. This impacts not only your child, but your entire family.

Sometimes you need to consider additional medical care choices for your child. It is helpful to learn about the different types of care that may be recommended.