What Care Models Have Generalists Implemented to Address Transition from Pediatric to Adult Care?: a Qualitative Study

A Quality Improvement Initiative to Improve Health Care Transition Planning at Adolescent Well Visits

OBJECTIVE

Health care transition (HCT) planning supports adolescents as they move from pediatric to adult health care and is recommended for all youth. HCT planning uptake remains low, with little known about HCT in the adolescent well child check (WCC) setting. We sought to increase rates of HCT planning at WCCs by adapting best practices for HCT from specialty and chronic care.

METHODS

This quality improvement initiative at 12 to 17-year-old WCCs at four Internal Medicine-Pediatrics primary care clinics, was based on the first three of the "Six Core Elements" of HCT framework and integrated into the electronic health record. Two uptake measures were assessed via chart review after three plan-do-study-act (PDSA) cycles, with two provider surveys and an implementation science analysis further informing interpretation.

RESULTS

By the final PDSA cycle, the percentage of 14 to 17-year-old WCCs at which HCT planning was discussed and a screening tool completed increased from 5% to 31%, and the percentage of 12 to 13-year-old WCCs at which the HCT policy was discussed increased from 6% to 47%. Provider survey results revealed endorsement of HCT goals, but time and technological barriers, which were further elucidated in the implementation science analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

This quality improvement initiative increased rates of HCT planning during adolescent WCCs. While limited to three Core Elements and Internal Medicine-Pediatrics clinics, strengths include measures capturing all WCCs, contextualized by provider surveys and an implementation science framework. Lessons from this effort can inform future tailored HCT initiatives at adolescent WCCs.

Gaps in transitional care to adulthood for patients with cerebral palsy: a systematic review

PURPOSE

The transition from pediatric to adult care can be complex and difficult to navigate for adolescents with cerebral palsy (CP). We aimed to assess the current state of transitional care for young persons with CP and delineate guidelines for best practice with opportunities for intervention.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted using PRISMA guidelines to search PubMed, Embase, and Scopus databases. Articles were screened for relevance via title and abstract prior to full-text review.

RESULTS

Of 3151 resultant articles, 27 observational studies were included. Fourteen (52%) studies assessed clinical outcomes of patients with CP during and post-transition. Transition-associated poor outcomes included housing instability, unemployment, difficulty forming relationships, increased hospital admission rates, and decreased use of rehabilitation services. Factors associated with improved outcomes included family participation, promotion of self-efficacy, and meeting the adult team before transition. Nine (33%) studies conducted interviews with transition-age persons with CP. Key themes were a lack of transition preparedness, difficulty navigating the adult system, gaps in seamless care, and limited accessibility to specialists and environments suitable for patients with complex care needs. Four (15%) studies examined features of current transition services. Perceived barriers included poor communication within health service teams, limited adult providers accepting CP patients, and the lack of financial resources for specialized care. There was no standardized transition tool or approach.

CONCLUSION

These findings underscore the importance of a planned transition process in optimizing long-term medical and psychosocial outcomes for persons with CP. Further research, including translational, team-based, and community-engaged research, are needed.

Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Allergists/Immunologists Regarding Transition of Care for Primary Immunodeficiency Patients

PURPOSE

Only some allergists/immunologists provide care throughout the lifespan despite their training. Although transition of care (TOC) guidelines exist, research on provider perspectives on TOC for pediatric primary immunodeficiency (PID) patients is lacking. We aimed to characterize knowledge, attitudes, and practices and establish clinician needs using a needs assessment survey.

METHODS

The 15-min online survey was adapted from an existing rheumatology TOC survey and was emailed to the American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology (AAAAI) and Clinical Immunology Society (CIS) members. Our primary hypothesis was that both AAAAI and CIS providers report being underprepared for TOC and would express interest in TOC resources and consensus.

RESULTS

Forty-nine of 1250 eligible AAAAI and 67 of 698 eligible CIS participants completed the survey (4.8% vs 11.3% participation rate). Many (53.1% vs 59.7%) respondents transition their own patients but also retain adult patients (59.2% vs 52.2%). Many accepted transition patients (85.7% vs 92.5%). In total, 24.1% of respondents did not have a TOC policy while 18.9% have an informal policy. Only 25.0% were satisfied with their current practices while 43.9% agreed that a consensus statement would be useful.

CONCLUSION

Despite a small sample size and high rate of unanswered questions, our findings show that TOC remains overlooked in our specialty and that providers want and need additional training and resources. There is a clear need to develop and evaluate the effectiveness of evidence-based TOC guidelines, resources, and best practices for PID patients.

Implementation and Evolution of a Primary Care-Based Program for Adolescents and Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum

Current primary care models are inadequate for adults on the autism spectrum. The Center for Autism Services and Transition (CAST) clinic was developed in 2014 using feedback from parents of adults on the autism spectrum and patient-centered medical home principles. We evaluated the reach of CAST’s services. As of January 2021, 858 patients were seen in CAST. Many continue to receive primary care from the CAST clinic. The program has undergone staffing changes but continues to accept new patients. We have added services such as “happy visits,” pre-procedure videos, and telehealth visits. CAST provides one example of how to improve primary care for adults on the autism spectrum. More research is needed to assess the effectiveness of the CAST model.

Bridging Pediatric and Adult Rehabilitation Services for Young Adults With Childhood-Onset Disabilities: Evaluation of the LIFEspan Model of Transitional Care

Background: LIFEspan ("Living Independently and Fully Engaged") is a linked transition service model for youth and young adults with childhood-onset disabilities offered via an inter-agency partnership between two rehabilitation hospitals (one pediatric and one adult) in Toronto, Canada. Objective: The objective was to evaluate healthcare outcomes (continuity of care and healthcare utilization) for clients enrolled in LIFEspan. Methods: A prospective, longitudinal, observational mixed-method study design was used. The intervention group comprised youth with Acquired Brain Injury (ABI) and Cerebral Palsy (CP) enrolled in LIFEspan. A prospective comparison group comprised youth with Spina Bifida (SB) who received standard care. A retrospective comparison group comprised historical, disability-matched clients (with ABI and CP) discharged prior to model introduction. Medical charts were audited to determine continuity of care, i.e., whether study participants had at least one visit to an adult provider within 1 year post-discharge from the pediatric hospital. Secondary outcomes related to healthcare utilization were obtained from population-based, health service administrative datasets. Data were collected over a 3-year period: 2 years pre and 1 year post pediatric discharge. Rates were estimated per person-year. Fisher's Exact Test was used to examine differences between groups on the primary outcome, while repeated measures GEE Poisson regression was used to estimate rate ratios (post vs. pre) with 95% confidence intervals for the secondary outcomes. Results: Prospective enrolment comprised 30 ABI, 48 CP, and 21 SB participants. Retrospective enrolment comprised 15 ABI and 18 CP participants. LIFEspan participants demonstrated significantly greater continuity of care (45% had engagement with adult services in the year following discharge at 18 years), compared to the prospective SB group (14%). Healthcare utilization data were inconsistent with no significant changes in frequency of physician office visits, emergency department visits, or hospitalizations for clients enrolled in LIFEspan in the year following discharge, compared to the 2 years prior to discharge. Conclusion: Introduction of the LIFEspan model increased continuity of care, with successful transfer from pediatric to adult services for clients enrolled. Data on longer-term follow-up are recommended for greater understanding of the degree of adult engagement and influence of LIFEspan on healthcare utilization following transfer.