Medical Home
Children and youth with Special Health Care Needs (CYSHCN) have or are at risk for chronic physical, developmental, behavioral, or emotional conditions and require health and related services of a type or amount beyond that required by children in general.
Data shows that roughly 15% of all Oklahoma children have a special health care need, 21% have an unmet health care need and 11% rely on the ER for primary care. Nationally, these children account for 80% of pediatric health care expenditures. A stalled economy, changes in insurance and health delivery systems, and funding reductions in many governmental programs contribute to fragmented care for this growing vulnerable population. Linking all children with special health care needs to a comprehensive medical home has become a priority of the Healthy People 2010 objectives and the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP).
What is a Medical Home?
A medical home is not a building, house, or hospital, but rather an approach to providing health care services in a high-quality and cost-effective manner. Children and their families who have a medical home receive care that they need from a pediatrician or physician whom they know and trust.
The health care professionals and parents act as partners in a medical home to identify and access all the medical and non-medical services needed to help children and their families achieve their maximum potential.
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) describes the ideal medical home as one that provides "accessible, continuous, comprehensive, family centered, coordinated, compassionate, culturally effective care."
Medical Homes in Oklahoma
The Department of Pediatrics/Child Study Center coordinated Oklahoma's participation in a twelve month multi-state intensive Medical Home Learning Collaborative. The Department of Pediatrics/Child Study Center staff, Title V staff of the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, and primary care practices comprised a state team that participated in medical home concept training held in 2003.
In January 2004 the Oklahoma University Health Science Center, Department of Pediatrics/Child Study Center entered into an agreement with the Oklahoma Health Care Authority to spread the Medical Home Care Model to primary care providers across the state serving children and youth with special needs who receive their health services through Medicaid.
In October 2004 the Center for Learning & Leadership, College of Medicine, OUHSC, received a 5 year grant for $1,250,000 from the US Department of Health and Human Services to develop the Family Support 360 Center and medical home at Children's Hospital.