Towards Practice Transformation in Transition Care:

3 Tools from the Health Care Transitions Research Network (HCT-RN)

http://www.autismtransition.net
Background Aim and Pathways to Progress
ASD is characterized by social deficits and restricted/repetitive behaviors or interests AIM: To address the lack of structured guidance in the field about working with individuals with
The severity of functional impairments for individuals with ASD can range significantly ASD in a health care setting, by presenting three tools that clinicians and clinical educators can
ASD can often be an invisible disorder use as a platform for implementing or teaching high quality transition care.
Clinicians often face a dearth of training experiences with respect to serving individuals
PATHWAYS TO PROGRESS: We anticipate that these tools will support overcoming barriers to
with ASD and other developmental disorders
access and reduce health disparities of individuals with ASD by:
Many clinicians report feeling uncomfortable or inadequately prepared to work with individuals
Increasing awareness about the need for and importance of transition care
with ASD and other developmental disorders
Providing practitioners with tools and frameworks that can be implemented immediately to integrate
Providers may be unwilling or underprepared to adequately meet health and transition care needs
transition care into their practice and ensure successful transitions from pediatric to adult health care
of individuals with ASD
for individuals with ASD and other developmental disorders
Particularly salient for adult care providers, many of whom do not have the specialized
Increasing the number of providers who are able and willing to provide competent and comprehensive
developmental training that pediatric care providers do
transition care for individuals with ASD and other developmental disabilities
Individuals with ASD face significant challenges in transition to adult care
Transition Readiness Tools Clinical Care Textbook National Health Care Transition Curriculum
Collaborative effort between Based on an expert-based,
For the practicing adult healthcare
stakeholders invested in health consensus-building, modified
providereither generalist or specialist
care transition Delphi survey process
Addresses the unique healthcare needs
Sets of disease-specific peer- Provides foundation and
of adults with chronic childhood illnesses
reviewed tools structure for future curriculum
Presents a model of primary and
Information adapted from the development
secondary prevention for emerging
Got Transition Six Core Elements Facilitates sharing of curricular
adulthood
of Health Care Transition activities and evaluation tools
Provides primary care providers with a
Customized to assist with and across programs by faculty with
new framework for the care of young
improve the transition a range of expertise
adults with chronic childhood conditions
experience for young adults with Kuo, AA, Ciccarelli, M, Sharma, N, & Lotstein,
Identifies opportunities to influence patient health outcomes DS. (In Press). Health Care Transition
specific diseases and/or chronic Curriculum For Primary Care Residents:
over a life course trajectory
conditions Identifying Goals and Objectives.
http://bit.ly/2sTce4G
Serves as a reference with approaches for caring for young
adults with specific conditions acquired in childhood
ISBN 978-3-319-43827-6

This project is/was supported by the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) under grant number UA6MC27364, Health Care Transitions
Research Network for Youth and Young Adults with Autism Spectrum Disorders. The information, content and/or conclusions are those of the author and should not be construed as the official position or policy of,
nor should any endorsements be inferred by HRSA, HHS or the U.S. Government.