April 1, 2022
The terms “medically fragile” and “medically complex” are similar terms used to describe a patient who has been diagnosed with a medical condition that interferes with daily living and who requires specialized care. While similar, the two words do have clear differences and should not be used interchangeably.
What Does It Mean to Be Considered a Medically Complex Patient?
The term “medically complex” refers to a child who has been diagnosed with multiple medical conditions that require ongoing specialized care. A medically complex child needs daily assistance to complete tasks. A medically complex diagnosis can include anything from a rare illness or cancer to physical trauma and learning disabilities.
What Does It Mean to Be Considered a Medically Fragile Patient?
Medically fragile, like medically complex, refers to a patient who has been diagnosed with a complex medical condition and requires specialized care. A medically fragile patient needs constant supervision, as they can not care for themselves, and often need assistance with daily activities, such as bathing or eating. Some medically fragile patients also rely on medical devices to help their bodies perform fundamental functions, such as breathing and eating.
Medically Complex and Medically Fragile Conditions
Medically complex and medically fragile conditions are considered lifelong and can affect a child’s ability to function. Treatment can help manage the child’s symptoms and, depending on the child’s abilities, a care team can help teach the patient techniques to cope with their challenges.
A few categories of medically complex and fragile conditions include:
- Congenital disorders: Congenital disorders are structural or functional abnormalities present at birth. These disorders can include spina bifida, Down syndrome, or congenital heart disease.
- Neurological disorders: A neurological disorder affects the brain and nerves. Examples of neurological disorders include epilepsy, autism, ADD (attention-deficit disorder), dyslexia, and cerebral palsy. A neurological condition can develop at birth or may be caused by infection, tumors, or trauma.
- Functional impairment: Someone with a functional impairment faces challenges with physical demands, such as walking or sitting. A functional impairment can include various neurological disorders, such as cerebral palsy. It can also refer to a loss of limb or anatomical deformity.
- Developmental disabilities: Developmental disabilities affect a child’s physical, behavioral, learning, or language development. A developmental disability can also refer to a congenital or neurological disorder, such as ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, autism, cerebral palsy, or any learning disability.
- Developmental delays: When a child has a developmental delay, they will not be at the same developmental level in certain skills such as motor function, speech and language, and social skills as other children of the same age.
How Home Care Services Can Help
Both medically complex and medically fragile children need ongoing assistance and care. Caring for a medically complex or fragile child can be challenging as a parent. At JSP Home Care Services, we’re here to help. Our licensed nurses provide compassionate pediatric care services to children with disabilities and complex health conditions. Not only does home health care give children a better quality of life, but it also relieves some of the hardship put on parents and gives them the space to enjoy and play with their children. Contact us today to learn more.
Sources:
https://www.who.int/health-topics/congenital-anomalies#tab=tab_1
https://childrenfirst.com/medically-complex-child-more-than-special-needs/
https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/developmentaldisabilities/facts.html#ref
