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 Medical Abbreviation: A Closer Look at Children with Special Health Care Needs
Written By:
Paulette Campbell RN-BC, BSN, MJ
Certified Legal Nurse Consultant
Medical Abbreviation |
Meaning |
SHCN |
Children with Special Health Care Needs |
SHCN has been defined by the Federal Maternal and Child Health Bureau as those children who are at risk for chronic, physical, developmental, behavioral or emotional conditions. SHCN also includes those who require health care related services in the amount that is greater than required by children in the general population. There are 9.3 million children in the United States under the age of 18 who fit the definition of SHCN. These children are at an increased risk for mental/behavioral problems, absent school days, unmet healthcare needs, and unscheduled intensive care stays.
Due to the care needs of those children who are SHCN, often times the parents are less likely to have a full-time job. This population of children is also more likely to have Medicaid insurance. Due to their extensive health care needs, SHCN account for half of child related health costs in the United States.
Often times being able to access the healthcare system as needed is a major barrier for children with SHCN and their families. In fact, in one study, 18% of the parents of children in this population reported that their child had unmet needs due to healthcare system restraints. Twenty-two percent reported that they were unable to obtain a referral for needed healthcare specialists or services. Twenty-one percent of parents reported that they had financial issues that were a direct result of their child’s healthcare needs or medical condition. Thirty percent of families reported that one family member had to reduce or stop employment because of their child’s condition.
The families of children with SHCN will have need for your services for a variety of reasons. Our medical legal consulting services can help you find solutions for these families in a variety of ways. Our medical record review can help you identify specialists the child has seen as well as what services the child requires. Our medical timelines and chronologies can help you illustrate the development of a particular medical condition as well as projected health effects of that condition. Our medical research will provide you with the latest research and guidelines pertaining to a specific healthcare need or medical condition. These are just a few of the solutions we can offer you. Contact our offices today at info@medicaljurisprudence.com or 630-551-0978 for more information.
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