Time for a More Unified Approach to Pediatric Health Care Policy?
- 27 October 2015
- journal article
- viewpoint
- Published by American Medical Association (AMA) in JAMA
- Vol. 314 (16), 1689-1690
- https://doi.org/10.1001/jama.2015.10166
Abstract
A recent report in the national media raised an important question: Who is monitoring and safeguarding the care of children with complex health care needs? The article reported on a hospital alleged to have a mortality rate for children undergoing heart surgery more than 3 times higher than the national average, prompting an investigation by the Joint Commission and the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.1 In August of 2015, the hospital voluntarily closed its congenital heart surgery program. Although many details remain unclear, this investigation has stimulated a long overdue discussion regarding the optimal care of these and other children requiring complex, resource-intensive care.Keywords
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