LAUSR

Hospitalization is a relatively common occurrence for patients with medical complexity. In fact, high health care use is a defining feature of children with medical complexity (CMC). CMC are a heterogeneous and growing population, unified by conceptual similarities: multisystem and frequently progressive chronic conditions leading to substantial functional limitations, family‐ identified service needs, and high healthcare use. Annually, approximately 13%–20% of CMC are hospitalized and 50%–80% of CMC healthcare spending goes to hospital care. However, some hospitalizations experienced by CMC are avoidable. Substantial variation in hospital utilization for CMC across regions, conditions, and emergency departments suggests opportunities surround us. Avoiding hospitalization for CMC is beneficial for most stakeholders. Fewer hospitalizations are in the interest of payers and aligned with those health systems engaged in risk‐sharing or capitated arrangements for CMC populations. For families, hospital admissions are extremely challenging periods. In this study, we—a hospitalist, a parent of a child with medical complexity, and a complex care pediatrician—review causes of hospitalization and propose recommendations to reduce hospitalizations for CMC (Table 1). NOT SIMPLY MORE CLINICAL CARE