HITea with Grace: Dr. Hayes Spills the Tea on Supporting Children with Special Health Care Needs

In this episode of HITea With Grace, Dr. Patricia Hayes, Imagine Pediatrics Chief Medical Officer talks about her lifelong purpose of being an advocate for children with special health care needs. Dr. Hayes shares the career path that led her to Imagine Pediatrics and the mission that drives her work. She explains how tech-enabled, multidisciplinary models strengthen existing pediatric care by offering families more support at home, better care, and more safe days at home. She also discusses the real-world challenges families face navigating Medicaid and pediatric systems, and how policy can both support and slow progress. Together, Grace and Dr. Hayes explore how Imagine Pediatrics integrates medical care, behavioral health, and social supports like transportation, housing, and food access. They close with what gives Dr. Hayes optimism for the future and her advice for women in healthcare and health IT.