Unmet Needs of Children With Special Health Care Needs in a Specialized Day School Setting

Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN) represent a significant component of the pediatric population. They often present to schools with multiple and increasingly complex health issues, including medical technology dependency. Their daily variation in health status requires close monitoring and communication among caregivers. Limited research exists regarding parental concerns and communication between health providers, schools, and families. This study identifies the concerns of parents with CSHCN families, including satisfaction with communication between medical providers and schools. Parents completed a survey adapted from the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Analysis of data indicated a high utilization of primary care services but highlighted persistent difficulty accessing services. This study demonstrates families have basic unmet needs in attaining services, including respite and palliative care; indicated an interest in improved communication and coordination of health information between schools and their primary health care providers; and expressed interest in augmenting school health services.