Pediatric to Adult Healthcare Transition: Shared Decision Making

Pediatricians typically care for patients from birth to early young adulthood. Part of that care includes preparing patients to transition from pediatric to adult healthcare. Patients and their families report feeling ill equipped for successful healthcare transition. They indicate lack of communication, frustration, uncertainty, and overwhelm; in addition to health insurances challenges and inadequate support for individuals with developmental disabilities/mental health challenges.

This session will examine the importance of optimizing healthcare transition planning by improving patient and provider preparedness. Through case study presentations, the session will explore the impact of inadequate transition planning on patient outcomes and demonstrate effective strategies during clinical interactions to improve transition readiness.

Participants will examine patient and family reflections on challenges and barriers to successful transition and identify actionable strategies to improve patient and family readiness.