Transition from Pediatric to Adult Medical Care

Because of recent medical advances, the number of children with chronic medical conditions who survive into adulthood has increased. The transition of care from pediatric to adult specialists and subspecialists has been rarely studied, yet it is an important aspect of care. To define issues in the pediatric patients at the University of Virginia, survey data was collected from adult nephrologists in the state. A total of 105 surveys were mailed to adult providers in Virginia. From 62 responses, 60% of adult providers did not feel completely comfortable caring for a patient with a pediatric-specific diagnosis. To efficiently receive information on new patients, adult providers preferred an abbreviated medical summary or phone call from pediatric providers. Additionally, interviews were conducted with 6 pediatric patients and their families. Patients reported a good grasp of their diagnosis and treatment, expressed an interest in learning chronic-illness coping strategies, and expressed interest in obtaining community-resource information. This study reiterated the need for additional insurance options for this at-risk population. Development of individualized transition plans and transition services are recommended to support young adult patients with chronic medical conditions as they transition into adulthood.

Index Words:  Transition , Adolescence , Chronic illness , Special education , Kidney disease