Transition from pediatric to adult-oriented health care: a challenge for patients with chronic disease

Pediatric providers can expect that I of every 10 patients they see will ha ve a chronic, activity-limiting health condition. Thanks to earlier diagnos is and improved therapies, most of these children will live well into adult hood. This means that eventually they will require care that focuses on adu lt health issues. Providers in the United States and around the world are r ecognizing the need for coordinated processes to transition adolescents and young adults with chronic conditions to adult health care. These models re ly on the participation and input of the adolescent, his or her family, and pediatric and adult health professionals. This paper distinguishes medical transition from medical transfer; discusses potential barriers to transiti on; examines new initiatives to develop and study transition models; and re views federal legislation influencing health care transitions. (C) 2001 Lip pincott Williams & Wilkins, Inc.