Improving Return to School for Children with Special Health Care Needs After HospitalizationImproving Return to School for Children with Special Health Care Needs After Hospitalization Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) frequently experience prolonged hospitalizations that significantly disrupt their education. A research study published in the journal Disability and Rehabilitation aims to identify areas that require attention to facilitate a seamless return to school for CSHCN after hospitalization. The study involved focus groups with parents, former patients, and rehabilitation professionals to gather insights into challenges and solutions. The key findings highlight the importance of: 1. Patient Educational Support: * Provision of instruction and schoolwork during hospitalization helps minimize learning loss. * Delays in school approvals and coordination issues between systems can hinder this support. 2. Transition Planning: * Establishing necessary services for educational and health care needs is crucial. * Limited information and guidance for families can present barriers to effective planning, especially for those with newly acquired health conditions. 3. Continued Support After Discharge: * Reassessing and adjusting transition plans is essential to meet changing needs. * Delays in school approvals and coordination issues between healthcare and education systems can impede this support. Recommendations: * Improve communication between clinicians and teachers. * Provide comprehensive information to families. * Ensure long-term follow-up to address the evolving educational needs of CSHCN after rehabilitation. Conclusion: The study emphasizes the need for enhanced coordination, communication, and educational support for CSHCN upon their return to school after hospitalization. By addressing these areas, children can receive the necessary resources to successfully navigate this transition and continue their educational journey without disruption.
Children with special health care needs (CSHCN) often face significant disruptions to their education due to prolonged hospitalizations. A recent study published online in Disability and rehabilitation on July 1, 2024, by a multidisciplinary team of researchers from the Kessler Foundation and Children Specialized Hospital, will highlight critical areas that need attention to ensure a smoother return to school for CSHCN and that they receive the necessary educational support following their hospitalization.
The study, which involved parents, former patients, and rehabilitation professionals, underscores the need for improved coordination and communication to facilitate seamless transitions back to school for CSHCN. The article, titled Experiences of patients, parents, and healthcare professionals in the process of transitioning from hospital to community after inpatient pediatric rehabilitation among children with special health care needs (https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2362951), provides insight into the challenges and solutions for improving return to school for CSHCN.
The Foundation authors are Yu-Lun Chen, PhD, OTR/L; Stephanie Jimenez; Alexa Bartalotta; John O’Neill, PhD; and Amanda L. Botticello, PhD, MPH. Claire M. Marchetta, MPH, is with Children’s Specialized Hospital.
Semi-structured focus groups were conducted with parents (n = 12), former patients (n = 20) and rehabilitation professionals (n = 8).
Through detailed analysis of recurring themes, we identified three essential points to achieve the best results. However, these steps were not always implemented effectively to achieve the desired results.”
Dr. Yu-Lun Chen, lead author of the study and researcher, Center for Outcomes and Assessment Research, Kessler Foundation.
“Patient educational support, such as instruction and schoolwork, helped reduce learning loss during hospitalization. However, this support was sometimes complicated by delays in school approvals and challenges in coordination between systems,” said Dr. Chen.
“Transition planning included establishing necessary services to support the educational and health care needs of CSHCN as they returned to school, although families reported limited information and guidance as key barriers,” she explained. Providing families with clear and accessible information about transition processes is especially critical for those dealing with newly acquired health conditions, although families highlighted the lack of information and guidance as key barriers to effective transition planning.
“Finally, continued support after discharge was essential, with many participants recommending reassessing and adjusting transition plans to accommodate changing developmental and educational needs. However, this support was sometimes hampered by delays in school approvals and coordination issues between health care and education systems,” Dr. Chen concluded.
The study found that there is an urgent need to improve communication between clinicians and teachers, provide comprehensive information to families, and ensure long-term follow-up of the changing educational needs of CSHCN after rehabilitation.
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Journal references:
Chen, Y.-L., and all. (2024) Experiences of patients, parents and healthcare professionals during the transition from hospital to community after inpatient pediatric rehabilitation in children with special healthcare needs. Disability and rehabilitation. doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2024.2362951.
