Transition to Adult Medical Care

The transition to adult health care providers and specialists can be very stressful for young adults who have essentially “grown up” with their pediatric health care team. Respecting the close bonds that can form between pediatric providers and their young patients and families is critical. Involving the pediatric team in the transition planning and process is important and can facilitate both child success and the education of the adult care providers. Allowing youth to learn about adult care and perhaps even having a practice visit with an adult provider can facilitate their transition process. Others have suggested that having transition clinics may be a method for providing health care for this special age group. Having a portable medical summary with contact information for reaching the pediatric care team is recommended. Helping the young adult understand the “ins and outs” of his or her insurance plan and assisting him or her as he or she assumes responsibility for self-management are other actions to assist the young adult. When adult providers adopt a family-centered as well as a patient-centered model of care they can address concerns of the family unit. This orientation may be helpful as the family and young adult are a long-standing team and may be coping with the transition to adult health care as a unit.

Keywords: Family-centered approach, medical summary, self-management; transition, understanding insurance, young adulthood.