This is PEDYACAST.

Welcome to Pediacast, a pediatric podcast for parents.

And now, direct from the campus of nationwide children's, here is your host, Dr. Mike.

Hello everyone, and welcome.

Once again to Pediacast.

It is a pediatric podcast for moms and dads.

This is Dr. Mike coming to you from the campus of nationwide children's hospital.

We are in Columbus, Ohio.

It is episode 442 for September 26th, 2019.

We're calling this one communication and support for families with complex medical conditions.

I want to welcome all of you to the program.

We have terrific information for you this week, especially if you are a family facing a complex medical condition in one or more of your children.

The number of families challenged by complex health care is on the rise, as medical advancement saves the lives of children whose conditions resulted in early death in the past. Today, there

are approximately 3 million children living with medically complex conditions in the United States.

And it's very important for pediatric providers to communicate with and support these families as they make what often amounts to very difficult and sometimes confusing journeys.

Our goal for today's discussion is to be helpful, really to three groups of people.

First, the many pediatric providers in the crowd who are called upon to communicate with and support these families.

Second, to the many families out there who are challenged by complex medical conditions,

especially those perhaps frustrated by their providers' communication skills and level of support.

We hope to empower you with ideas for increasing satisfaction and effectiveness as you engage

and partner with your child's medical providers.

And a third, everyone else. All of us know a family or two making this journey. Hopefully

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