The National Alliance To Advance Adolescent Health Receives Federal Funding
TO IMPROVE TRANSITION FROM PEDIATRIC TO ADULT HEATLH CARE
Washington, D.C. – There are approximately 18 million US adolescents ages 18 through 21, one quarter of whom have chronic conditions, who should be transitioning from pediatric to adult-centered health care. Many, however, are ill-prepared for this change, and their health care providers often lack a systematic approach for assuring seamless transfers of care. Not surprisingly, the US ranks very low on health care transition performance and the consequences are many. A sizable proportion of young adults ages 22 and older are not receiving age-appropriate care, have no primary care provider or “medical home,” and often rely on minute clinics or emergency rooms for their health care needs. Inevitably, the health of young adults is diminished, quality is compromised, and costs to society are increased.
To address this pervasive problem, the US Maternal and Child Health Bureau has granted a 5-year award to The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health to operate the new Center for Health Care Transition Improvement in order to expand the availability of effective health care transition supports. Activities of the center will be directed to health care professionals, youth, young adults, and families, and policymakers. They include:
1) expanding health care transition supports in pediatric and adult practices; 2) increasing education and training opportunities for health professionals; 3) developing innovative strategies to engage youth, young adults, and families in transition planning; 4) promoting health system performance and payment policies aligned with recommended transition services; and 5) serving as a clearinghouse for current transition information, tools, and resources. The new center will expand the important foundational work of its predecessor, GotTransition?, and serve as a national resource on health care transition.
According to project co-directors, Peggy McManus and Dr. Patience White, “we are well aware of the complexity in bridging pediatric and adult systems of care and have assembled a strong national team of experts and many professionals, community organizations, youth, and families to accelerate improvements in health care transition.”
