Care coordination: Integrating health and related systems of care for children with special health care needs

Care coordination is a process that links children with special health care needs and their families to services and resources in a coordinated effort to maximize the potential of the children and provide them with optimal he alth care. Care coordination often is complicated because there is no singl e entry point to multiple systems of care, and complex criteria determine t he availability of funding and services among public and private payers. Ec onomic and sociocultural barriers to coordination of care exist and affect families and health care professionals. In their important role of providin g a medical home for all children, primary care pediatricians have a vital role in the process of care coordination, in concert with the family.