Chapter 07: Caring for Children with Special Health Care Needs

Garzon Maaks: Burns’ Pediatric Primary Care, 7th Edition

MULTIPLE RESPONSE

1. What interventions does the primary provide for a child diagnosed with several complex
health conditions? (Select all that apply.)
a. Maintaining the child’s routine vaccinations as well as a yearly flu shot
b. Providing diagnosis and treatment for the child’s acute onset of ear fullness and
pain
c. Providing an explanation regarding the use and care of the client’s respiratory
support equipment
d. Referring the child to a respiratory specialist to deal with exacerbation of asthma
symptomology
e. Discussing the expected physical implications of puberty with the patient’s parents
ANS: A, B, D, E
Primary care is needed for routine vaccinations, common disease management, referrals, and
family support and guidance Education regarding specialized equipment would be handled
under the directive of tertiary care services.

MULTIPLE CHOICE

1. Support for a child with complex health issues may require the use of what high level tech
equipment?
a. Urinary catheter
b. Enteral feeding pump
c. A handheld magnifier
d. Crutches
ANS: B
An enteral feeding pump is an example of a high level/complex tech equipment used to
support a child with a complex medical history. All the other options, while helpful, are
considered low tech because of their lack of significant technology.

2. Which complex health condition is the result of a chromosomal defect causing varied physical
and emotional symptoms?
a. Cerebral palsy
b. Prader-Willi syndrome
c. Cystic fibrosis
d. Diabetes
ANS: B
Prader-Willi syndrome is chronic, complex disorder that is a result of a chromosomal defect.
Cerebral palsy is related to a neuromotor disorder. Cystic fibrosis is a respiratory disorder
while diabetes is considered metabolic in mature.

3. What is the greatest barrier to securing adequate home health care for the child with complex
medical needs?
 a. Shortage of trained service providers
b. Reimbursement for needed skilled nursing services
c. Parent resistance to accepting such services
d. Acquiring the necessary service related referral
ANS: B
Unfortunately, reimbursement for home health is often difficult to obtain and often limited to
eight hours a day. While the other options may be true in some situations, none are a
consistent barrier to effective home health care.

4. What is the criteria for Supplemental Security Income (SSI) approval?

a. The existing impairment is chronic
b. The impairment is life threatening
c. The family is unable to cover health care costs
d. The child is a ward of the state
ANS: B
The Supplemental Security Income (SSI) program provides financial help with care costs if
the child has severe functional limitations caused by a physical and/or cognitive impairment
likely to last longer than one year or result in the child’s death. None of the other options,
while impactful, are criteria for SSI assistance.