New Hampshire
Spotlight Project:
Survey of Adult Health Care Providers about Health Care Transition for Youth with Special Health Care Needs
The process of changing from child health care to adult health care takes attention and planning. This is especially true for those with chronic special health care needs, a designation which applies to nearly 17% of New Hampshire’s children and youth.
In response to this, Special Medical Services (SMS), of New Hampshire's Department of Health and Human Services has been directing education efforts to transition for a number of years. Building on their previous activities, SMS decided to conduct a survey of adult health care providers to identify unmet needs and current practices and beliefs. In February, 2008, they began compiling the 180 responses received primarily from family physicians. For the full report (April 2008) click here!
The results indicate that a lack of coordination and communication regarding the transition and transfer of care of youth with special health care needs could lead to gaps in medical care for a population that needs uninterrupted care.
- 46% rarely or never communicated with the previous health care provider
- 57% rarely or never received a written transfer summary from the previous provider
- 48% thought the patients had experienced a gap between pediatric & adult care
Another important finding was that many were either not comfortable or only somewhat comfortable treating certain low incidence or complex conditions.
- Most comfortable treating:
- Asthma (92%)
- hypertension (89%)
- intellectual disability (75%)
- mental health conditions (57%)
- diabetes (54%)
- Less comfortable treating:
- Autism (22%)
- Cystic fibrosis (15%)
- Chromosomal/metabolic disorders (14%)
- Technologically dependent (11%)
Respondents thought the following would be helpful:
- 95% would like a written transfer summary
- 95% would like support from specialists
- 91% want to have conversations with the previous health care provider
- 84% wanted written information about a particular condition
To help smooth the transition, SMS promotes the use of written medical summaries and the Transition Checklist and Timeline. SMS also recommends these survey results be considered in the development of educational programs for physicians and medical students.
Copies of the original article, a sample medical transition summary form and other tools can be obtained by contacting Kathy Cahill at Special Medical Services at kcahill@dhhs.state.nh.us or calling 1-800-852-3345 X 4510.
(10/09)
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The New Hampshire Leadership Education in Neurodevelopmental and Related Disabilities (LEND) Program
LEND is a collaborative graduate program of Dartmouth Medical School and the Institute on Disability (IOD) and the College of Health and Human Services at the University of New Hampshire. It received a $600,000 grant to expand its focus on interdisciplinary training related to early identification and intervention of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). This grant, received as part of approximately $5.6 million in funds distributed by the Health Resources and Services Administration to a total of 21 universities and research organizations, will support the newly-created New Hampshire Leadership Education in Autism Spectrum Disorders (NH LEASD) Program.
In collaboration with the Center for Medical Home Improvement, the NH LEASD Program will work toward assuring that children with ASD in New Hampshire and northern New England are screened and diagnosed before the age of 18 months to guarantee access to early intervention, family-centered care, and maximal developmental outcomes. Over the course of the three-year expansion project, a total of 132 interdisciplinary professionals in primary health care, allied health, and education fields will enhance their knowledge, skills, and leadership abilities to provide services, including screening, diagnosis, assessment, and evidence-based interventions, to individuals with ASD and their families in the community.
This initiative will also work toward creating a sustainable ASD Leadership Network comprised of state and regional interdisciplinary health care and early intervention professionals who are knowledgeable about evidence-based practices that improve the health and well-being of children with or at risk for ASD.
Please visit their website by clicking here.
6/08