Pediatric Measures Final Report 

A healthy childhood sets the stage for better health and quality of life in adulthood. About 75 million children under 18 years of age live in the United States, representing 23.3% of the population. The health of children includes unique considerations, such as the variety of developmental stages through which children progress; differences in physiology and prevalence of health conditions in the pediatric population as compared to adults; the dependence of children on adults for consistent and continuous care; and changing demographic patterns, such as increased rates of poverty among children. In addition, nearly 20% of children have complex health needs; for example, they may have a chronic medical, behavioral, or developmental condition that affects their daily lives. Understanding the health-related needs of children and adolescents is essential for developing measures to improve the quality of care for the pediatric population. This report summarizes the evaluation of 24 new measures reviewed by the Pediatric Measures Committee, 15 of which were endorsed.