Family Burden and Medical Complexity: Wrestling with the Meaning and Impact of Commonly Used Terms

Meg Comeau, a parent of a young adult with special needs as well as a long-time professional in the CSHCN field, suggests that commonly used terms such as “family burden” and “medical complexity” are viewed differently by parents and professionals, with consequent impact on how services are provided. She proposes reconciling those views, with the goal of creating a better system of care.