Bridging the gap: Disaster preparedness for medically complex pediatric patients

Medically complex children (CMC) are most widely defined as pediatric age patients who meet the following domains: chronic medical condition, functional limitations, family needs, and increased healthcare utilization. Most recently in 2024, Millar et al. published a modified delphi study in which specific criteria were identified for each of the four domains within the framework [1]. In short, contrary to other groups of children, CMC stand out in their unique and intense dependence on health systems and caregivers to remain alive.