Transition from Pediatric Care to Adult Care
Cystic Fibrosis (CF) was once thought of as a condition exclusively of children. Advances in treatments have allowed more and more persons with CF to live well into adulthood. This presents individuals with CF many opportunities and challenges, including how to incorporate treatment into an increasingly independent way of life.
Transition is the purposeful, planned preparation of patients, families, and caregivers for the transfer of the patient to an adult program. What is the plan that we have developed at the Riley Hospital for Children Cystic Fibrosis Center at Indiana University Health to begin this process?
Beginning at age 12, the CF team will begin to address all questions directly to the patient. Parents will be able to accompany their child/children to the exam room.
By age 14 each child will be seen independently with the Health Care Team. The CF physician will then be available for parents to review the plan and ask any questions.
Between the ages of 18-20 each person will be scheduled to the Adult Transition Clinic to meet the Adult CF team and begin care with the Adult CF Center.
We believe that this long term plan will assist each person with building skills needed to assume responsibility for their own care.
Indiana University Health Hospital Adult Clinic Scheduling
800.486.6124
317.274.8660
Section of Pediatric Pulmonology Transition Protocol
- Discussion about transition to start no later than age 12. Discussion to include review of transition checklist, with a copy provided to the patient and family. Provide DVD on Transition for the patient and family to review independently.
- Inform parents and patients that future clinic visits will begin to be conducted without the parents present initially, to develop experience in conducting visits independently at age 13.
- Provide parents and patients with goals to be accomplished prior to visits to allow for independent interviewing. (This is listed in the transition checklist. We may need to include a note with annual visit letters reminding the family to review the transition checklist prior to their visit.)
- Review and implement transition checklist at annual visit at age 13. The checklist should remain a part of quarterly and annual visits.