Siblings of Children with Medical Complexity-A Vulnerable Population in the Medical Home

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Healthcare
• Family-Centered Care
• Health Services Research

Background:

• Medical home models aim to improve care coordination for children with medical complexity (CMC).
• Research has not extensively evaluated the impact of medical homes on siblings of CMC.
• Siblings of CMC may face unique challenges and require specific support within healthcare systems.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess the preventative care status and medical home utilization of siblings of CMC.
• To compare the care received by siblings of CMC with that of their non-sibling peers.
• To identify potential gaps in healthcare services for siblings of CMC.

Main Methods:

• An 18-month retrospective chart review was conducted.
• Data were collected from 236 siblings of CMC and 230 matched non-siblings across four academic pediatric medical homes.
• Preventative care status and medical home use were key assessment metrics.

Main Results:

• Siblings of CMC demonstrated significantly different medical home utilization compared to non-siblings.
• They were less likely to be up-to-date on well-child care visits.
• Siblings of CMC were less frequently identified as children with special health care needs (CSHCN).

Conclusions:

• Siblings of CMC may be at risk for suboptimal preventative care and under-identification as CSHCN.
• This can lead to exclusion from support registries and outreach programs.
• Further strategies are needed to ensure comprehensive care for this population within medical home settings.