Supporting children with serious health care needs. Analyzing the costs and benefits.

Effective and efficient service delivery to children who rely on medical technology or ongoing medical care will become increasingly critical as technology and medical know-how grow more sophisticated. Presently, technology's development and application threaten to outpace systems of service delivery. This article explores the present state of affairs by considering the challenges involved in planning and evaluating programs for children with special health care needs and their families. A cost-benefit model is suggested as a meaningful framework for considering challenges related to providing service in this arena and evaluating its effectiveness.