4 Ways Pediatricians Can Support Children Living with Chronic Illness

From 2011 to 2023, the prevalence of 3- to 17-year-old individuals with a chronic condition (physical or mental) rose from 25.8% to 31.0%. Chronic illnesses in childhood require long-term, comprehensive care, and no matter what condition a child has, it is likely to have a significant impact on the quality of life for both them and their parents.

Chronic conditions can include:

• Asthma

• Diabetes

• Epilepsy

• Allergies

• Autoimmune disorders

• Mental health conditions

To achieve the best outcome, a child living with chronic illness requires care continuity between their providers. The nature of chronic conditions means that a child will need to see several different kinds of physician specialists, with their parent often acting as a central care coordinator in addition to all their other responsibilities. They must keep track of changes in their child's symptoms, what medications their child is on, and coordinate with specialists and local resources to find the best care for their child. This can be an overwhelming task for a parent to take on, but there's an expert already equipped to support with this job – their child's pediatrician!

4 Ways Pediatricians Can Support Children Living with Chronic Illness

Pediatricians are in a unique position when it comes to chronic illness care. They form an established relationship with parent and child, have routine check-ins scheduled each year, and possess a wealth of experience in managing a wide variety of childhood conditions. All this means they are poised to be a central support for a child living with chronic illness.

• Central Care Coordination

Children with chronic illness have many different physician specialists managing their condition in addition to their primary care provider. For example, a child with asthma may need to see an allergist and a pulmonologist, and a child with diabetes may need to see an endocrinologist and a dietician. Pediatricians can serve as a central point between specialists and families, communicating updates between care teams and helping coordinate care.

• Personalized Care Plan

Pediatricians can develop personalized care plans that include monitoring symptoms, listing contacts for the child’s care team, managing medications, and regular check-ins to address any changes in a child’s care. This helps make sure that concerns are addressed early, and the child gets the support they need.

• Education on Chronic Conditions

Pediatricians can help a child understand their chronic illness at a developmentally appropriate level. They are also able to teach parents how to recognize early warning signs that their child’s condition is worsening, how to administer complicated medications, and how to advocate for their child’s needs in different spaces.

• Mental Health Referrals

Living with a chronic illness is a taxing experience for anyone, but it hits children especially hard. Children living with physical chronic health conditions are 62% more likely than their peers to develop a mental health condition. Pediatricians can use the Virginia Mental Health Access Program to connect with experts about a pediatric patient’s care on the VMAP Line, or to request care navigation to source referrals for the child and their family. Parents aren’t able to use the VMAP Line, but pediatricians can use it for their child’s care.

Click to learn more about the Virginia Mental Health Access Program and how we support pediatricians and other prescribing clinicians!