Virtual Conference

October 29, 2020 - October 30, 2020

Needs Statement

Skill preparation and planning for healthcare transition for children and youth with special healthcare needs is inadequate. Less than 50 percent of families nationwide indicate that their children with special healthcare needs have received the services necessary to make appropriate transitions to adult healthcare, work, and independence. One of the major hurdles to receiving this care is the lack of a workforce, including physicians, nurses, social workers, mental health providers and all who provide services to youth and young adults with special healthcare needs trained to provide the services necessary to make the healthcare transition. There is a strong need for physicians to have the knowledge and skills to provide the services needed to facilitate a successful transition from pediatric to adult-based care and services.

Because of increased awareness of transitioning to adult-based care, clinicians are required to update their knowledge of the changing strategies for integrating emerging adult-based care into practice.

For all conference participants, there will be a discussion of the legal issues involved in healthcare transition, as well as time to meet and talk with faculty in small groups, to exchange ideas among participants, and to share knowledge and information about how best to plan for a successful transition to adulthood.

Target Audience

Physicians in internal medicine, family practice, pediatrics, psychiatry, and physiatry; other healthcare providers including psychologists, social workers, nurses, dietitians, case managers, counselors, and primary care providers; and youth and young adults who have a chronic illness or disability and their parents or guardians.

Learning Objectives

At the conclusion of the conference, participants should be able to:

• Identify strategies for setting up and evaluating a transition program as well as describe models of care for transitioning youth with a variety of chronic illnesses and disabilities
• Identifying strategies for helping caregivers cope with the stress of caring for and then planning for the transition to adult-based care for their AYASHCN.
• List the interdisciplinary aspects of care, such as formal planning related to HCT for families of AYASHCN, performed by many members of the provider team, especially nurses.
• Explain the legal issues associated with transition from pediatric to adult-based care.

Educational Methods

Lectures ▪ Breakout Sessions ▪ Question and Answer Sessions

Activity Evaluation

Evaluation by questionnaire will address program content, presentation, and possible bias.