The Transition from pediatric to adult healthcare takes several years, starting at age 12 and completing, for some, at age 26. There are many good resources for families to help guide them through the process. The Youth Health Transition Initiative has identified 8 tools for families and youth. By careful planning using the 8 Tools to a Successful Transition, transition will go more smoothly and cause less stress for families.
Adult Providers
Youth who have a pediatrician will need to transition to an adult provider. Many specialists will only see children or adults. Start looking for adult providers early, at about age 14.
To prepare for the transition to an adult provider and practice, there are several steps to take.
- Know the names of the doctors and reasons for seeing them.
- Spend time alone with the pediatrician.
- Fill out a checklist to see where you are in the transition process.
When choosing a new provider, ask friends or the pediatrician for suggestions. Building a relationship with a new health care team will take time.
Adult Provider Video
Decisions
There are lots of decisions that come up in health care. As youth get older, there are healthcare decisions they can begin to make for themselves. To help them learn to make decisions, start offering choices and encourage as much independence as possible starting when they are young.
Youth ages 12 and 14 also have rights to privacy. Ask the pediatrician or family practitioner about those rights. Families can talk about how to handle consent and decision-making as the child gets older. At around age 16, explore Supported Decision-Making as an alternative to guardianship.
Decisions Video
Insurance
Youth can start by carrying their own insurance cards. As they become an adult insurance will change.
Consider the options. Some may continue on the family’s plan until 26 and after with special permission. Others may get coverage through a job. Others may receive Medicaid through programs such as BadgerCare Plus or Supplementary Security Income.
Start asking your Children’s Long-term Support Case Manager or contact the Regional Center for Children and Youth with Special Health Care Needs or the local Aging and Disability Resource Center.
Emergency Contacts
Save Emergency Contacts wherever they are easy to find, on a cell phone, a card, or wherever the youth knows to find them. First responders or others present in an emergency need to be able to find them, too.
Appointments
Youth can learn to make their own appointments. Start by making a follow up appointment while at the office. To call for an appointment, take it step by step, starting by calling the office. Using a script or other prompts may help make it easier to make the call.
If a youth is comfortable messaging on the computer, then using the digital portal and message system like My Chart may be the best way to communicate with the provider’s office.
Appointments Video
Medications
Taking medications independently is an important step for youth to take. Weekly pill boxes, blister packets, and other ways to keep them organized are a good way to start.
As much as possible, its also important to know what each medication is for and what they look like.
The next step is ordering and picking up prescriptions from the pharmacy and buying the over the counter medications.
Medications Video
Health Summary
A Health Summary includes not only the youth’s health and conditions, but also the family medical history. Include medications, past surgeries and hospitalizations, allergies, and other health related information.
About Me
About Me is a story about the youth that describes them for their provider. It might include how they learn, what health conditions they have, and how they make decisions about their health. The About Me includes hobbies, interests, important people in their life, how they best communicate, any phobias, such as for needles, and how a successful visit with a provider would look.
