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