Thus, transition-readiness assessment tools and transition-satisfaction scales are available for use in rheumatology transition processes.
Got Transition: The Center for Health Care Transition Improvement, a national center for healthcare transition, has developed a structured approach called the Six Core Elements of Health Care Transition (HCT), with sample tools and two transition measurement options.
For pediatric practices, the Six Core Elements of HCT consist of a transition policy, tracking and monitoring, readiness assessment, transition planning, transfer of care, and transfer completion. For adult providers, the Six Core Elements of HCT are slightly different and include a transition and young adult care policy, tracking and monitoring, orientation to adult practice, integration into adult approach to care, initial visit and ongoing care.
Recently, the American College of Physicians Council on Subspecialty Societies established a Pediatric to Adult Health Care Transitions Workgroup, which is charged with adapting the transition tools from Got Transition for primary care internal medicine and subspecialty providers and disseminating their use among their society’s members. The ACP plans to launch the set of transition tools developed by the subspecialty workgroups at its national internal medicine meeting in 2016 and on its website in 2016.
This call to action is significant in that it recognizes the critical role of adult subspecialty providers in the transition process and promotes more standardized transition processes. The ACR is one of the more than 10 subspecialty societies that have joined in this initiative. The ACR appointed a Transition Workgroup as part of this initiative, which includes adult and pediatric rheumatology providers (both ACR and Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals members), parents, a patient organization representative, and a young adult. The Workgroup developed recommendations and tools for ACR members involved in transitioning youth/young adults.
One of the authors of this paper (SA: [email protected]) is leading this Transition Workgroup for the ACR and can be contacted with questions.
Read the full article and review the sources cited herein.
Excerpted and adapted from:
White PH, Ardoin S. Transitioning wisely: Improving the connection from pediatric to adult health care. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2016 Apr;68(4):789–794.
