Pediatric-to-adult healthcare transitions: Current challenges and recommended practices

Catherine B. Hobart, Hanna Phan

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

16 Scopus citations

Abstract

Purpose: An overview of the pediatric-to-adult healthcare transition (HCT) process, including stakeholders, challenges, and fundamental components that present opportunities for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians, is provided. Summary: Pediatric-to-adult HCT programs should be longitudinal in nature, be patient focused, and be coproduced by patients, caregivers, and care team members. Educational components of HCT programs should include knowledge and skills in disease state management and self-care; safe and effective use of medications, as well as other treatment modalities; and healthcare system navigation, including insurance issues. Interprofessional involvement in HCT is encouraged; however, roles for each discipline involved are not clearly delineated in current guidelines or literature. Possible influencing elements in achieving successful pediatric-to-adult HCT outcomes include those that are related to patient and/or caregiver factors, clinician awareness, availability of resources, and ability to achieve financial sustainability. Conclusion: The use of structured pediatric-to-adult HCT programs is currently recommended to optimize patient and health-system outcomes. Given the importance of medication-related knowledge and healthcare system navigation skills to successful care transitions, there are opportunities for pharmacists and pharmacy technicians to contribute to HCT programs.

Original languageEnglish (US)
Pages (from-to)1544-1554
Number of pages11
JournalAmerican Journal of Health-System Pharmacy
Volume76
Issue number19
DOIs
StatePublished - Sep 16 2019

Keywords

  • adolescent
  • children with special health care needs, CSHCN
  • healthcare transition
  • self-management
  • transition of care

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Pharmacology
  • Health Policy

Fingerprint

Dive into the research topics of 'Pediatric-to-adult healthcare transitions: Current challenges and recommended practices'. Together they form a unique fingerprint.

Cite this