When you have a child with complex medical needs, you need options. Coordinating effective care can feel overwhelming. The team at WVU Medicine Children’s is here to help. We are passionate about helping kids with multiple conditions, as well as their families and caregivers. We offer one central source for your child’s continued care coordination – to improve outcomes and lives.
Understanding Pediatric Complex Care
Pediatric complex care is a unique area of medicine. It’s a specialty that coordinates whole-person care for kids with multiple health problems. We understand that as a parent, you want effective, quality care for your child — from doctors, community organizations, and at home. That’s why, together, we work closely to meet your child’s needs.
Effective primary care lays the groundwork for comprehensive specialty care. We consult with your primary pediatrician to oversee your child’s well-being. We can also step into the role of primary care provider, delivering preventive care services, like immunizations and well-child care.
Candidates for Complex Care
A child may benefit from complex care if they:
- Have multiple pediatric specialists
- Are dependent on medical equipment, such as a ventilator, gastrostomy tube, or tracheostomy tube
- Experienced multiple hospitalizations or emergency room admissions
- Have two or more chronic health conditions
Conditions We Treat
Often, there is a connection between chronic health conditions. One primary medical issue, such as a brain injury or a congenital heart disorder, can cause other problems. Our job is to provide an integrated, coordinated approach to caring for each condition.
We provide whole-person care for kids of all ages with:
- Brain injuries
- Breathing problems
- Cerebral palsy
- Chronic lung disease
- Congenital heart disease
- Developmental delays
- Epilepsy and seizure disorders
- Feeding or swallowing disorders
- Fetal alcohol syndrome
- Genetic disorders
- Metabolic diseases
- Mitochondrial diseases
- Movement disorders
- Muscular dystrophies
- Neurodegenerative diseases
- Neurological disorders
- Prematurity
- Spina bifida
Complex health conditions can affect multiple areas of the mind and body. Our team consults with a variety of pediatric specialists and providers to create the best care plan:
- Cardiologists
- Child life specialists
- Dietitians
- Endocrinologists
- Geneticists
- Immunologists
- Infectious disease specialists
- Neurologists
- Pharmacists
- Psychiatrists
- Pulmonologists
- Rehabilitation therapists
- Social workers
Treatments and Services
Complex care services at WVU Medicine Children’s include:
- Assisting with medication management
- Connecting families to community support services
- Consolidating medical appointments to decrease stress on the patient
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Coordinating care between:
- Primary pediatricians
- Specialists
- Therapists
- Medical equipment providers
- Helping families deliver effective home care
- Improving communication among all providers
- Optimizing patient’s quality of life and development
- Reducing hospitalizations and emergency room admissions
- Transitioning your child from inpatient to outpatient care
- Working with your child’s school to address needs for an individualized education program
Resources
WVU Medicine Children’s has specialty clinics and programs for many complex conditions. Learn more about our services:
- Craniofacial center
- Epilepsy center
- Infectious diseases
- Neurodevelopmental center
- Neurology
- Spasticity clinic
- Spina bifida clinic
The Pediatric Complex Care Clinic is located on the second floor of the Physician Office Center, close to all the pediatric specialty clinics. This gives us easy access to your child’s healthcare team.