Supporting Children with Complex Medical Needs at Kentucky Children's Hospital

To better care for children with special healthcare needs, Kentucky Children’s Hospital has partnered with Easter Seals of the Bluegrass to renovate a 25,000 square foot space that will be home to three pediatric specialty clinics: NICU Graduate, Developmental Pediatrics, and Complex Care. Each of these specialties serves patients with unique healthcare needs. This new space opened in October 2023 under the leadership of Dr. Carol Steltenkamp, External Chief Medical Officer for UK HealthCare. Kentucky Children’s Hospital Complex Care Program, based in Lexington, Kentucky, currently serves more than 165 pediatric complex care patients from all over the Commonwealth of Kentucky, with 75% of our patients traveling from outside Fayette County. Patients enter our care after they are discharged from the hospital, and our dedicated healthcare team provides the best possible care to patients and teaches loved ones to manage their child’s care at home. Each patient is different, and our multidisciplinary team evaluates each child to determine the best care plan. This team includes a physician, nurse practitioner, dietitian, physical therapist, speech-language pathologist, occupational therapist, feeding specialist, and social worker. Our team of providers helps ease the transition and bridges the gap from hospital to home care by always being available to answer questions or discuss concerns with caretakers. This service helps limit the number of trips to the emergency room and readmissions to the hospital. A nurse navigator serves as the main point of contact and liaison between caregivers and primary care providers.