Transitioning Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs from Pediatric to Adult Health Care
Youth with disabilities become adults with disabilities. If you are a youth with disabilities or the parent of a youth, changing from pediatric health care to adult health care can be a challenge.
Care needs to be coordinated and comprehensive. It should occur within a medical home.
Successful health care transition can lead to:
-
Better health
-
More productive life
-
Self-sufficiency and independence
-
Prevention of secondary conditions
-
A smooth transfer to an adult primary care provider
Having good health means:
-
Better time management
-
Healthy lifestyle habits (see healthy lifestyle habits pyramid)
-
More time to spend with friends
-
Fewer trips to doctor
-
Fewer money/insurance problems
-
Ability to choose your own doctor
-
Better self-awareness
Not having good health can mean:
-
Dealing with sudden medical problems and spending more time with doctors instead of enjoying life to the fullest
-
Missed school/job opportunities
-
No time for friends/loss of friendships, supports, and resources
-
More money/insurance problems
The most important part of understanding the transition process is to master the ability to manage your own health care through:
-
Appointments with health care providers (who to see and when)
-
Medication management (what, why, when and how)
-
Record keeping and documentation
-
Medical decision-making (especially if your child is now 18 years old)
-
Knowledge of your health condition
-
Knowledge of insurance options
-
How to handle medical emergencies
Resources for a Successful Transition
Contact
Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs Access to Care Specialist: Holly Shoun, holly.shoun@dhhs.nc.gov