Behind so many children with complex medical needs there is an often invisible support system. The people we're talking about are family members of children with medical complexity. Pediatric neurodisability specialist Helen Leonard shares her experience navigating the healthcare system with her son, Matthew. Health systems are generally better at handling single-issue fixable conditions, such as heart attacks or trauma, but fall short for people with complex needs. If we want to truly deliver coordinated and integrated care, we have to support the entire family, because caring for the caregiver is caring for the child.

References:

• Leonard H. Personal health budgets—a view from the other side. The BMJ Opinion. 2010.
• Leonard H. Children with complex health needs and personal health budgets. Archives of Di ...