title: Adolescents in transition of adult care: why the concern?
abstract: This article has described issues associated with transition planning for youth with CHD. A number of approaches have been described to address the needs of this growing number of youth with CHD. Transition to adulthood has been and will continue to be a significant clinical concern as the adult survival rate increases. Health care professionals who are involved in transition planning will be focused on the health-related concerns of the transfer to an ACHD, insurability, and long-term CHD management, as well as issues related to employment, education, social relationships, and independent living. Successful transitioning is dependent on long-term planning,. youth-centered approaches, service coordination, and referral to adult agencies. As youth, families, adult survivors, and experts have discovered, long-term survival means more than the physical aspects of CHD.
authors.affiliation: Children's Hospital of Los Angeles, 4650 Sunset Boulevard, Mailstop 53, Los Angeles, CA 90027, USA. clbetz@aol.com
authors.forename: Cecily L
authors.initials: CL
authors.lastname: Betz
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D000328:Adult; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration; D006330:Heart Defects, Congenital / Q000451:nursing / Q000534:rehabilitation / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D007348:Insurance, Health; D020380:Needs Assessment; D010347:Patient Care Planning / Q000458:organization & administration; D010934:Planning Techniques; D012648:Self Care; D014481:United States