Deeper Dive: Clinical Care Over the Lifespan and During Transitions

Dr. Carl V. Tyler, MD, MSc; Dr. Laurie Glader, MD

Particularly relevant transitions in the life of people with disabilities include transitioning from preschool or early intervention to kindergarten, graduating from high school, transitioning from the pediatric to adult care system, moving from parents’ home, marriage, birth of a child, changing job, home, or housemate, coping with the death of parent, retirement, health in aging, and end of life. Health care providers must plan adequate time to address related care issues during the clinical visit and be knowledgeable about effective strategies to engage patients with disabilities in creating a coordinated plan of care with needed services and supports.

Learning Objectives

After completing this training, attendees will:

• Describe how successful transitions improve adult outcomes and reduce health care utilization and cost.
• Discuss the core elements of health care transition, and patient/family experiences across the lifespan.
• Summarize areas of assessment and planning in health care transition, including: health care access; patient independence with self-care; access to community supports.
• Identify ways to engage the patient, family, and medical home in health care transitions.
• Demonstrate understanding that disability should not limit self-determination in health care decisions (including end-of-life care) for people with disabilities, regardless of disability type and severity. Assess ability to present the same treatment options that would be presented to similar-aged peers without disabilities.

Presentation