What is health care transitioning?
Definition: The planned and purposeful movement of adolescents and young adults from child-centered to adult-centered care (
source below*)
Why is transitioning important?
- 90-95% of youth with chronic illnesses are surviving into adulthood.
- Many of these youth have increased hospitalizations, poorer outcomes, and even increased mortality after transitioning to adult care.
- Structured programs can prepare youth for their future in school and work, social and community integration, and adult health care.
Why do youth experience poor outcomes?
All youth face challenges as they grow up.
- Increased levels of independence
- Social pressures regarding high-risk behaviors
- Financially
Youth with chronic illnesses face greater challenges due to their medical needs.
- Have to learn to manage their condition independently
- Have to learn to navigate the health care system
- Have to deal with the change in culture between pediatric and adult centered care
- Pediatric care provides family centered, comprehensive services, generally in one location, and allows parents to control decisions
- Adult care provides individual, disease centered care, and leaves the responsibility for multidisciplinary management to patients and assume patient independence in medical decision making
- Have to learn to balance their medical condition with school or work, adult life skills, community integration and their social and emotional well being
*From: A consensus statement on health care transitions for young adults with special health care needs. Pediatrics. Dec 2002;110(6 Pt 2):1304-1306.