Pediatric Reflections on Compass Care

Our One True North

In 2015, we launched a new program at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia known as Compass Care, which is dedicated to the care of children with medical complexity. The aim of the program is simple: to improve quality of care and the experience of care for children with complex medical needs and their families, and to help these families navigate the sometimes complex healthcare system.

Since then, the Compass Care program has served more than 200 children and their families. Through a multidisciplinary team approach, Compass Care collaborates with patients, families, and the entire care team to develop a comprehensive care plan for each patient. At CHOP, we are surrounded by extraordinary expertise in every pediatric specialty. For families of children who need this expertise from multiple specialists, it can be challenging to put all the pieces together. That is where we come in. Our job is to listen to our families and understand their priorities and their goals. Together, we help map out a plan and navigate the path forward.

A great deal has changed in the past few years, and fortunately these changes have brought even greater opportunities to improve the experience of care and the coordination of care for children at CHOP.

CHOP has developed a care management department to focus on providing proactive care coordination and transition management for children with medical complexity across both our primary and specialty care network. This department has provided a home for the Compass Care program, the Transition to Adult Care program, and care management embedded in the patient-centered medical homes at our CHOP primary care practices. Through this approach, we are able to meet the needs of a broader number of patients and bring proactive care coordination to the setting that best meets the needs of each patient and family.

Our families often convey their gratitude to the team for walking the journey with them and helping to provide guidance when it is needed. However, the truth is that our patients are our compass. When we are working toward the best outcome, the best path, for each child — that is our one true north.