In this article, Dr. Ryan Coller et al. sought to identify subgroups of U.S. children with special health care needs and characterize key health outcomes by subgroup. They used a latent class analysis to identify 4 unique subgroups: (1) broad functional impairment with extensive health care, (2) broad functional impairment alone, (3) predominant physical impairment requiring family-delivered care, and (4) physical impairment alone. Children from class 1 had the highest ED visit rates and hospitalization odds, and the lowest odds of having a medical home. Despite having more shared decision making and medical home attributes, children in class 3 had more ED visits and missed school than children in class 2. However, children in class 2 experienced more cost-related difficulties, care delays, and parents needing to stop work.
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