What Are Barriers and Facilitators of Transitioning Youth to an Adult Health Care Provider?

Discussion Transitioning patients within or across health care facilities is a complex process. It is not a single step or point in time. For many patients the transition from pediatric to adult health care can be uncomplicated as patients and health care providers are ready for the transition and are seeking it. It should be a part of “developmental milestone” for adolescent visits. Asking adolescents about their future plans especially after high school or college often easily segues into this discussion easily. For other patients and families, there is anxiety and fear about the transition process. For youth with special health care needs (YSHCN) the process can be complicated. It is estimated that ~18% of 12-18 year olds in the US are YSHCN. Of these, it is estimated that only 40% receive transitional services to adult health care, and delays in doing so result in > 400,000 of these individuals remaining in pediatric care. A 2013 national study of YSHCN defined a successful transition to adult health care as having a usual health care source or personal doctor or nurse, having a provider who provides adult care, had health insurance that met their needs, one preventive health care visit in the past 12 months, and had not delayed or foregone needed health care services in past 12 months, and the patient was satisfied with health care services. Patients were more likely to successfully transition if they were female, received all routine preventive childhoo...
Source: PediatricEducation.org - Category: Pediatrics Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Source Type: news