At The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center, we recognize that it can be scary to transition to adult care at a new hospital or emergency department (ED) when you have a complex condition that began in childhood.
That’s why Ohio State has a hospital-based team that works directly with the ED and other providers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center University Hospital and the Ohio State Wexner Medical Center East Hospital to make sure that each adult with a complex pediatric-onset condition receives the type of specialized care they need.
What’s considered a complex condition?
Although this is not a complete list, some of the most common diagnoses that we coordinate hospital or ED care for include:
- Congenital heart disease
- Intellectual and developmental disabilities
- Cerebral palsy
- Spina bifida
- Pediatric-onset disabilities
- Neurodevelopmental disabilities
- Genetic disorders
- Congenital disorders
- Williams syndrome
- DiGeorge syndrome (22q11.2 deletion)
Do I qualify for complex care inpatient services?
Even if you arrive at Ohio State University Hospital or Ohio State East Hospital for an unrelated health concern, our complex care inpatient services are available to any adult who meets these criteria:
- Diagnosed in childhood with an intellectual or developmental disability, congenital or genetically acquired syndrome or a pediatric-onset disability
– AND – - Requires care from multiple types of medical experts
– AND – - Depends on one or more of these types of technology:
- Tracheostomy
- Gastrostomy
- Assistive devices, such as wheelchairs, durable medical equipment or augmentative communication tools
What to expect from Ohio State Complex Care Inpatient Services
After our nurse case manager reviews your health records to confirm your needs, the Complex Care Inpatient Services team will be notified. In turn, they’ll work with your hospital providers to make sure everyone on your care team understands your complex condition and the extra or specialized treatment that may be needed.
- You do not need to have a regular Ohio State provider prior to your hospitalization or emergency care to qualify. However, if you already receive outpatient care through Ohio State’s Complex Care Clinic, these providers will receive updates about your hospital stay.
- Any follow-up care that’s needed after your discharge will be shared with your regular doctor or the Complex Care Clinic.
- If you’d like to consult with or establish ongoing outpatient care with the Complex Care Clinic, our nurse case manager can help schedule this appointment before you head home.
The Complex Care Inpatient Services team
Katrina Johnson, MD
Director
Kelly Grannan, MD
Co-Director
Christy Mulligan, MD
Co-Director
Amy Poling, MSN Ed., RN, LSN
Case Manager