BACKGROUND INFORMATION

The categories included in the PICUBASICS mnemonic were identified by reviewing the literature on medical errors and avoidable morbidity in children with chronic conditions.^1-4 The PICUBASICS project⁵ is based on the Chronic Care Model,⁶ which posits that improved health outcomes result when health care delivery is organized to meet the medical, psychosocial and information needs of patients with chronic conditions. PICUBASICS is a collaborative project of SUNY Upstate Medical University , Syracuse, NY, the Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong , Rochester, NY, and Colloquy, a distance learning application developed by Lumin Guild, Inc, Pittsford, NY. The PICUBASICS project is maintained by:

• Lynn Cole, MS, PNP, Pediatric Nurse Practitioner, Kirch Center for Children with Physical Disabilities, Golisano Children's Hospital at Strong, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
• Nienke P. Dosa MD, MPH, Assistant Professor of Pediatrics and Medical Director, Physical Disabilities Program and Spina Bifida Program, Center for Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, New York.
• Robert K. Kanter, MD Associate Professor of Pediatrics, Director, Pediatric Critical Care, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY.
• Gregory S. Liptak, MD, MPH Associate Professor of Pediatrics and Nursing, and Medical Director, Kirch Center for Children with Physical Disabilities, Golisano Children's Hospital, University of Rochester, Rochester, NY.
• Herbert Schneiderman, MD Professor of Pediatrics emeritus, Center for Neurodevelopmental Pediatrics, SUNY Upstate Medical University, Syracuse, NY.
• Christine Sevilla, MA
• Timothy Wells, MBA, MS

 REFERENCES

1. Dosa NP, Boeing NM, Ms N, Kanter RK. Excess risk of severe acute illness in children with chronic health conditions. Pediatrics 2001; 107(3):499-504.
2. Kohl LT CJ. To Err Is Human: Building a Safer Health System: Institute of Medicine; . 1999. Washington, DC, Institute of Medicine. 99.
3. McConnochie KM, Roghmann KJ, Liptak GS. Avoidable morbidity in infants. A classification based on diagnoses in administrative databases. Medical Care 1997; 35(3):237-254.
4. Sacchetti A, Sacchetti C, Carraccio C, Gerardi M. The potential for errors in children with special health care needs. [Review] [20 refs]. Academic Emergency Medicine 2000; 7(11):1330-1333.
5. Dosa NP, Cole L, Kanter RK, Liptak GS. PICUBASICS: an on-line resource for the diagnosis and management of acute illness in children with chronic conditions and disabilities. Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation Clinics of North America 2002; 13(4):823-837.
6. Wagner EH, Austin BT, Davis C, Hindmarsh M, Schaefer J, Bonomi A. Improving chronic illness care: translating evidence into action. Health Affairs 2000; 20(6):64-78.