Program seeks Council approval for an initiative titled “Navigating Pediatric to Adult Healthcare: Lost in Transition.” With improved rates of survival in childhood illnesses in the United States and globally, individuals are living longer with one or more chronic conditions. To meet the needs of diverse populations with chronic physical/medical conditions or intellectual/developmental disabilities as they transition from pediatric to adult centric healthcare services, barriers to successful health care transition (HCT), methods and measures for defining HCT, and the identification of promising practices must be better understood. The ultimate goal is to improve care quality and patient and family outcomes during and after HCT.
As children transition from pediatric to adult health care services, there are several barriers that lead to issues accessing and engaging in age-appropriate care, managing developmental needs, and supporting optimal health. As such, it is critical to ensure that the transition from pediatric to adult health care services includes coordination of the complexities of care for chronic conditions. HCT should consider the context of typical developmental processes during the transition to adulthood as well as the multiple domains of functioning that are critical to life success (e.g., schooling, work, housing). New technologies designed to manage, monitor, provide guidance/support, or otherwise facilitate successful HCT could also bridge gaps in current practices.
This proposed Initiative builds upon pediatric scientific research priorities identified by the NIH Pediatric Research Consortium (N-PeRC), a two-day Workshop, and NOT-HD-21-027: Notice of Special Interest (NOSI): Navigating Pediatric to Adult Health Care Transition, which was published in June of 2021 and now recently expired. Nine NIH Institutes/Centers/Offices collaborated on the NOSI, with multiple applications received, covering a variety of conditions.
This proposed concept aligns with the NICHD Strategic Plan Theme 4: Improving Child and Adolescent Health and the Transition to Adulthood.
Program Contact
Sonia Lee
Maternal Pediatric Infectious Disease Branch (MPIDB)
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