Enhancing Collaboration Between Primary and Subspecialty Care Providers for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs

This guide is intended to serve as a framework for discussion about how primary and subspecialty care physicians can work collaboratively to enhance the quality of care that children and youth with special health care needs (CYSHCN) and their families receive. It discusses the complementary roles of generalist and subspecialist physicians in providing coordinated and effective care for CYSHCN and emphasizes the centrality of family-professional partnerships.It also describes various models for collaboration among generalist and subspecialist physicians and families in order to provide comprehensive primary care in a high-quality and cost-effective manner.