Lesson 2: Developing a Transition and Care Policy/Guide CG

Developing a Transition and Care Policy

– Creating a Transition and Care Policy/Guide
In this section, we will delve into the crucial process of developing a transition and care policy/guide for your practice. This policy/guide serves as a roadmap that outlines your practice’s approach to healthcare transition, privacy and consent considerations, and the age at which patients should transition to adult clinicians. We will guide you through the steps involved in creating this document.
You’ll learn about the significance of involving youth, parents, and caregivers in the policy development process. We’ll also emphasize the importance of cultural sensitivity, ensuring that your policy is patient-centered and adaptable to diverse cultural preferences. By the end of this section, you’ll have the knowledge and tools to draft a comprehensive transition and care policy/guide for your practice.

– Educating Your Healthcare Team
Developing a policy/guide is just the first step. To ensure a successful healthcare transition, it’s essential to educate all members of your healthcare team about the practice’s approach to transition and their distinct roles in the process. This education should be comprehensive, covering both the pediatric and adult healthcare teams.
We’ll guide you through effective strategies for educating your team members, emphasizing cultural competence and sensitivity. By the end of this section, you’ll be equipped to ensure that your entire healthcare staff understands the importance of healthcare transition and is ready to actively support the process.

– Displaying and Sharing the Policy/Guide
Creating a policy/guide is not enough; it must be accessible and known to patients and their families. We’ll discuss the importance of displaying the transition and care policy/guide prominently in your practice space. Additionally, you’ll learn when and how to initiate discussions about the policy/guide with youth, parents, and caregivers, beginning as early as ages 12 to 14.

Regularly reviewing the policy/guide as part of ongoing care is essential to keep patients and their families informed and engaged. This section will provide you with practical guidance on making the policy/guide a living document that guides patients and their families throughout their healthcare transition journey.