You objectives are to:
- Develop a transition and care policy/guide with input from youth/young adults and parents/caregivers that describes the practice’s approach to transition and an adult approach to care in terms of privacy and consent .
- Educate all staff about the practice’s approach to transition and distinct roles of the youth/young adult, parent/caregiver, and health care team in the transition process, taking into account cultural preferences
- Display transition and care policy/guide somewhere accessible in practice space, discuss and share with youth/young adult and parent/caregiver, beginning at age 12 to 14, and regularly review as part of ongoing care
.
Please refer to and use the Policy Guide in the “Materials” folder at the top of this lesson.
The Policy Guide and an Example Letter used At Johns Hopkins for Sickle Cell patients are included there. Here is an except from the Hopkins letter.
“Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital Sickle Cell Transition Policy Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital cares about you. We will help you move smoothly from pediatric to adult health care. This means working with you, starting at age 13, and your family to prepare for the change from a “pediatric” model of care where families make most decisions, to an “adult” model of care where you will make your own decisions. We will spend time during the visit without your parent in the room to help you set healthy goals and help you take control of your own health care. Outside of preparing you for moving into an “adult” model of care, our program wants you to be a well-rounded individual. We also want to help you in planning for your future, know your resources and become mentally and emotionally prepared to succeed. At age 18, youth are adults by law. Many of our young adult patients choose to still involve their families in health care decisions. We will only discuss personal health information with your family members if you agree. If you have a condition that limits you from making health care decisions, we will share with your parents the options for how to support decision-making. We will work with you to decide the age for moving to an adult provider. We suggest that this transfer take place before age 22. Our practice policy is to ensure that patients are well prepared and able to be transferred by age 21. We will help with this transfer process in finding an adult provider, sending medical records, and talking about your special needs with the adult provider. As always, if you have any questions or concerns, please feel free to contact us at xxxxxx-xxxx.”
