Transitioning Patients from Pediatric to Adult Care
One way to improve health outcomes for youth with special health care needs is ensuring that they successfully transition from pediatric to adult health care. Health care providers help with this transition by ensuring youth:
- Understand their changing health needs
- Take more responsibility for managing their own care
- Identify appropriate adult health care providers
- Maintain insurance coverage
See PACER’s tip sheet Health Care Transition Tips for the Pediatric Provider to get started on setting up a transition process in your pediatric clinic.
National resources
Got Transition
National Health Care Transition Center for families supporting youth and young adults to access health systems as new health care consumers.
PACER's National Parent Center on Transition and Employment (Health & Transition Section)
A young person’s health is critical to his or her overall well-being. Good health provides a solid foundation for success at home, work, school, and in the community. As children become adults, families must determine how a young person’s health care expenses will be covered once they are no longer covered on the family policy or by a children’s health care program. Many families also experience the challenge of transitioning from a long trusted pediatrician to a new adult health care provider.
The Culturally Sensitive Individualization of Services and Supports
Information on Cultural Reciprocity and how providers can assist with transition planning when working with diverse families.
The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health
National initiatives in education, research, policy analysis and technical assistance in support of health outcomes for adolescents and the infrastructure changes needed to achieve them.
Simons Foundation Autism Research Initiative: Study aims to capture autism's transition into adulthood
A new study in the UK looks at young adults who are diagnosed with Autism Spectrum Disorders and the transition from pediatric to adult health care.
In Minnesota
Youth and Young Adults Planning for the Future
Minnesota Department of Health Transition Resources
Minnesota Department of Employment and Economic Development
Employment options for youth and adults with disabilities
MinnesotaHelp.info
Find services for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses, and for their families and representatives.
Resources for families and young adult consumers
- HealthCare.gov
Health Care coverage information for Young Adults - “Keeping and organizing Medical Records”
Information for family members, youth and young adults on what health care records and information to keep and bring to medical appointments - “What does Health Have to do with Transition? Everything!”
Benefits and strategies for including Health in the Individualized Education Process -
Person Centered Planning: A Tool for Transition
Using Person Centered Planning to assist teenagers and young adults plan and prepare for transitions. - Honoring Choices
Resources to encourage health care conversations including health care directives and end of life decisions. - Health Care Directives
Questions and answers about Health Care Directives from the Minnesota Department of Health. Health Care Directive form is also available. - Health Hobbies
Students with disabilities give insight on hobbies that they have to help them stay healthy.