Transitioning youth to adult healthcare: new tools from the Illinois Transition Care Project.
OBJECTIVE
To improve youths' transition to adult healthcare, especially for youth with disabilities, The Illinois Transition Care Project created separate, yet complementary, curricula for pediatric and adult-oriented providers.


METHODS
Content from the curricula was tested by practicing physicians. The project created a library of skill worksheets with functional goals for patients. All methods included opportunities to teach life skills to patients to independently manage their conditions. The curricula used Maintenance of Certification (MOC) Part 4 credit as an incentive for physician participation.


RESULTS
Pediatric pilot data indicate improvement across all sites and activities. Adult medicine results indicate increased perceived importance and feasibility of accepting young adult patients with childhood conditions. Patient/parent reviewers indicate the tools are understandable, interesting, and effective.


CONCLUSIONS
Findings suggest the curricula, with MOC Part 4 credit for physicians, are effective in improving transition care. Project results provided new information on population management for transitioning youth and on the use of MOC Part 4 credit as an incentive. Findings have implications for primary care and specialty physicians, team-based care, teaching self-management skills to patients and methods for engaging adult-oriented physicians in the transition process.
Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, Chicago, IL, USA.
K E
KE
Sanabria
Child Health Data Laboratory, Chicago, IL, USA.
H S
HS
Ruch-Ross
Illinois Chapter, American Academy of Pediatrics, Chicago, IL, USA.
J L
JL
Bargeron
University of Illinois at Chicago, Specialized Care for Children, Springfield, IL, USA.
D A
DA
Contri
University of Illinois at Chicago, Specialized Care for Children, Springfield, IL, USA Department of Pediatrics, University of Illinois College of Medicine, Chicago, IL, USA.
M A
MA
Kalichman
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003479:Curriculum; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007087:Illinois; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration*; D007400:Interprofessional Relations; D008297:Male; D010865:Pilot Projects; D010934:Planning Techniques; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D015397:Program Evaluation; D058996:Quality Improvement / Q000458:organization & administration*; D060305:Transition to Adult Care / Q000458:organization & administration*; D055815:Young Adult
Healthcare transition; adolescent care; care coordination; childhood acquired; childhood onset; complex childhood conditions; condition self-management; functional goals; quality improvement