9165 Healthcare Transition: From the Peds Office to Adult Care

Saturday, July 16, 2016: 10:15 AM-11:30 AM

Studio 4 (New Orleans Marriott)

An often-overlooked part of transition is the necessary preparation of youth with disabilities and/or special healthcare needs for the world of adult healthcare. The American Pediatric Association and other health-related organizations recognize healthcare transition as a significant issue for young people and their families. Early preparation allows for quality outcomes.

An important, yet often overlooked, part of transition planning in the educational setting is the necessary preparation of youth with ASD and/or special healthcare needs for the world of adult healthcare. The American Pediatric Association and many other national health and disability-related organizations recognize special healthcare transition as a significant issue across the country.

As national focus continues to increase on college and career readiness, and transition requirements move to earlier grades in the planning process, the need to learn how to manage health care needs to the best of one’s ability is paramount in order to make post-secondary goals a reality.

However, educational planning rarely brings this aspect into the process. Most pediatric practices do not have a formal process for transition. Families work hard to develop a medical home community for their children, but research shows that most youth and their families are unprepared for the transfer of care to the adult system amidst the overall complex journey into adulthood.

The good news is that much can be done early and often during adolescence at school, at home, and with one’s medical professionals to facilitate a planned and safe healthcare transition from the pediatric office to the adult healthcare system.

After consideration of research, current practices, resources, and lived experience practicalities on the issues surrounding this missing piece in the transition process, participants will be able to:

- Identify the challenges of healthcare transitions from a family perspective, and steps to take in preparation.

- Discuss current research regarding healthcare transition and persons with ASD, varying disabilities, and special healthcare needs.

- Develop list of appropriate educational activities and resources for the healthcare transition needs of your family member or student.

Learning Objectives:

Identify the challenges of healthcare transitions from a family perspective, and steps to take in preparation.
Discuss current research regarding healthcare transition and persons with ASD.
Develop list of appropriate educational activities and resources for the healthcare transition needs of your family member or student.

Track: Lifespan 3 - Transition

Content Area: Education

Presenter:

Linda H. Starnes, BS
PEART of Florida

Linda Starnes provides current, informed presentations across the country, utilizing her background as a special educator; federal government appointee; Presidential committee member of the PCPID; multiple disability, educational, faith-based and healthcare boards' member; and most important, the lived experience as parent of two with varying abilities and complex healthcare needs.

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