Medical and health care in state residential institutions for children and youths. A report of survey findings in five hospitals. The Committee on Children with Handicaps, Northern California Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics.

A survey of five Northern California state residential institutions showed considerable variation in the type and amount of medical services provided for children and youths. There was no standard policy for relationships with regional centers, use of community hospitals, vision and hearing assessments, speech and rehabilitation therapy, or genetic and maternal health services. Some hospitals had no staff members certified to carry out cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR). Not all staff physicians and other health professionals working in state hospitals had specific training in the areas of genetics, seizure control and physical rehabilitation medicine. While all five state hospitals are involved in training personnel, there is a need to develop a statewide plan for the better sharing of knowledge and expertise of the state hospital personnel in the training of pediatricians and others.