Growing up, your parent(s) or legal guardian likely helped you with your health care – they added you on their insurance, called for appointments, filled out forms, and kept track of medications. Now imagine those needs are your responsibility now – yikes! Transitioning to adult health care is a big step – just like going to college, getting your first adult job, or living on your own – transition requires preparation and self-advocacy. It’s never too early (or late) to ask your parent/caregiver or doctor questions about your health care needs!
Will I notice a difference in my care when I transition?
Transitioning your health care from a pediatric provider to an adult provider is exciting, yet a potentially nerve-wracking experience. However, always remember to be kind to yourself -you are learning a whole new responsibility and sometimes that can take time! You may find it helpful to begin independently managing your care around the age of 15-16 years old. That way, you will likely still have your parent(s) or guardian as well as your pediatric provider available to help guide you through becoming more independent. Create a plan with your parent(s) or guardian and your providers. Organize your care and ask questions, as this will help you begin navigating your transition to adult care. There are a lot of differences between pediatric and adult health care providers. However, as you begin the transition you’ll feel a change, but why? Well, when you’re a kid, your care involves the whole family — this is called child/family-centered care. When you transition to adult care, your care only involves you– this is called adult/patient-centered care.
Differences between Pediatric and Adult Health Care
| Program Features | Pediatric Care | Adult Care |
| Practice Approach | Family-centered; shared decision-making with parents | Patient-centered; shared decision-making with young adult |
| Clinic Appointments |
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| Patient Role in Health Care Needs |
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**With exception of patients with special needs where parents/caregivers may have legal guardianship or power of attorney for health care needs
Will anyone be able to help me coordinate my care?
In pediatric healthcare, there are a lot care coordination options, but in adult healthcare there are very few. You will have to learn how to independently coordinate your appointments and care.
How should I prepare for my transition?
You should begin expressing interest to your parent(s)/legal guardian and health care provider (HCP) about becoming more involved in your care. Typically this is recommended to begin between the ages of 15-16 years old. Remember it is OK to start small, ask questions, and even ask for help. Transitioning your care comes with a lot of new responsibilities and it may seem overwhelming, but you will do great!
Tips for transitioning care:
- Requesting alone time with your clinician to practice becoming more independent in discussing your health care needs.
- Make a list of questions or concerns that you would like to discuss with your doctor
- Ask your health care provider (HCP) to explain information you do not understand
- Learn how to call in a prescription refill to your local pharmacy
- Request your own insurance card
- Ask your parent(s)/guardian about your medical conditions:
1) What is it?
2) When did it start?
3) For epilepsy: what do my seizure look like? Triggers?
4) Medications and/or rescue medications and dosages
- Ask for help making a list of your medical history (conditions, surgeries, family medical history, vaccinations) and medications (types, how much/when, medication allergies). Take pictures of the medications or keep a list in your phone for reference.
- Explore the portal to help you access your health and contact information. As you get older, it’s helpful to practice understanding and reviewing medical tests that were performed.
- Keep your health care providers phone number somewhere it is easily accessible.
- Practice scheduling and canceling appointments
- Ask for recommendations of adult primary care providers and specialists.
Our health guides are developed through a systematic, rigorous process to ensure accuracy, reliability, and trustworthiness. Written and reviewed by experienced healthcare clinicians from Boston Children's Hospital, a Harvard Medical School teaching hospital and consistently ranked as a top hospital by Newsweek and U.S. News & World Report, these guides combine clinical expertise, specialized knowledge, and evidence-based medicine. We also incorporate research and best practices from authoritative sources such as the CDC, NIH, PubMed, top medical journals, and UpToDate.com. Clinical specialists and subject matter experts review and edit each guide, reinforcing our commitment to high-quality, factual, scientifically accurate health information for young people.