About
Recent survey data from the National Center for Health Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 19% of children nationwide have special healthcare needs. A child with "special needs" refers to any child who has or is at risk of developing chronic conditions which require health services of a type and amount not usually required by children of the same age. This includes conditions such as asthma, ADHD, rare genetic disorders, congenital heart defects, severe allergies, developmental disabilities, emotional or behavioral health needs, and hundreds of other disorders. A smaller subset of all children (0.4-1%) of children meet criteria for children with medical complexity.
The CYSHCN Committee aims to support PA AAP's PA Medical Home Program (MHP), which manages a statewide network of over 189 pediatric/family practices representing a variety of practice settings as well as efforts to promote the adoption and implementation of core medical home concepts, care integration, care coordination, quality improvement, payment, team-based care, and patient/family-centered care.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania has the third largest rural population in the nation, with rural Pennsylvania comprising 75% of the state's land area. As such, racial, ethnic, geographic, and economic disparities are ubiquitous. Leveraging the connections the PA MHP has to children via primary care medical homes presents an opportunity for education, resources, and health integration to mitigate and address these health disparities and improve equity including disabilities and behavioral health.
According to the U.S. Census Bureau, Pennsylvania has the third largest rural population in the nation, with rural Pennsylvania comprising 75% of the state's land area. As such, racial, ethnic, geographic, and economic disparities are ubiquitous. Leveraging the connections the PA MHP has to children via primary care medical homes presents an opportunity for education, resources, and health integration to mitigate and address these health disparities and improve equity including disabilities and behavioral health.
Goals
The purpose of the Children and Youth with Special Healthcare Needs (CYSHCN) Committee is to promote the health of children and youth with special healthcare needs who are at risk for or have experienced disruption through advocacy, policy, education, prevention, and quality improvement initiatives.
The Committee will:
Our work will relate to CYSHCN relevant to the needs of the state and consistent with national AAP positions, research agenda and relevant policy issues.
The Committee will:
- Develop educational opportunities for PA AAP members
- Advocate for CYSHCN and children with medical complexities (CMC) within healthcare settings
- Collaborate with community-based partners and agencies to advance healthcare for CYSHCN, including CMC
- Advocate for policies and necessary resources at the local, municipal, state, and federal level focused on improving access to care, integration and equity for CYSHCN and CMC
Our work will relate to CYSHCN relevant to the needs of the state and consistent with national AAP positions, research agenda and relevant policy issues.
Leadership
Meet the CYSHCN Committee Co-Chairs:
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Renee Turchi, MD, MPH, FAAP
Dr. Turchi is a Professor of Pediatrics at Drexel College of Medicine and a Professor of Community Health and Prevention at Drexel University's Dornsife School of Public Health. Dr. Turchi serves as the Medical Director of the Center for CYSHCN and the Chair of Pediatrics at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children where she also acts as a practicing pediatrician caring for children with special health care needs and medical complexities. Dr. Turchi is a Fellow of the AAP. She has been an active member of the PA AAP Chapter since 2001 at which point she assumed the role of Medical Director of the PA MHP. In addition, Dr. Turchi is a member of the AAP Sections on Home Care and Administration & Practice Management as well as the AAP Council on Children with Disabilities and Committee on Child Finance. She was elected to represent the PA AAP Chapter on the Council on Children and Disasters. Dr. Turchi also participates in the Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders (FASD) and Regional Education and Awareness Liaisons (REAL) Champions Network. |
Anna-Marie G. Tierney, MD
Dr. Tierney is a Clinical Associate Professor of Pediatrics at Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania and an attending physician at the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia Care Network- South Philadelphia. She has been the lead physician for the Medical Home implementation in her practice and has assisted in its certification as one of the nation's first NCQA Pediatric Patient Centered Medical Home. Dr. Tiereny is a Fellow of the AAP. She has been an active member of the PA AAP Chapter since 2003. |
MembershipThe CYSHCN Committee welcomes PA AAP members to contribute their expertise to the Chapter's efforts around access to and quality of care for CYSHCN.
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Why Should I Join?PA-based providers have the opportunity to empower their patients and educate families, policymakers and fellow practitioners on the needs of CYSHCN.
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