title: A transition pilot program for adolescents with sickle cell disease.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Transition from pediatric to adult care is challenging for adolescents with chronic illnesses, including those with sickle cell disease (SCD). We describe a pilot program created to facilitate transition from pediatric to adult care by helping adolescents with SCD identify an adult medical home.
  
  
  METHODS
  We investigated the feasibility of this program by evaluation of overall participation, satisfaction, and acceptance. A secondary objective was to compare the proportion of adolescents who fulfilled a first appointment with an adult hematologist among participants and nonparticipants.
  
  
  RESULTS
  During the first 18 months of the program, 83 adolescents were invited and 34 (41%) agreed to participate; 25 (74%) completed their first visit within 3 months after leaving the pediatric program, compared with 16 of 49 (33%) of nonparticipants (p = .0002). Overall, 41 of 83 adolescents (49%) completed an appointment with an adult SCD program, regardless of program participation, in contrast with 11 of 75 adolescents (15%) who did so during the 18 months before the program was created (p < .0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This transition pilot program was feasible, and most adolescent participants with SCD established an adult medical home.
authors: Department of Hematology, St Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Memphis, TN 38105, USA. jane.hankins@stjude.org
authors: Jane S
authors: JS
authors: Hankins
authors: Raymond
authors: R
authors: Osarogiagbon
authors: Patricia
authors: P
authors: Adams-Graves
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: McHugh
authors: Vanessa
authors: V
authors: Steele
authors: Matthew P
authors: MP
authors: Smeltzer
authors: Sheila M
authors: SM
authors: Anderson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D016497:Adolescent Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D000755:Anemia, Sickle Cell / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D003266:Continuity of Patient Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D017060:Patient Satisfaction; D026684:Personal Autonomy; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015397:Program Evaluation; D011787:Quality of Health Care; D013714:Tennessee / Q000453:epidemiology; D060305:Transition to Adult Care / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards