While some forms of vasculitis resolve quickly, other forms become chronic illnesses and require ongoing management. As teens transition to adulthood, there are many things to consider. Below is a list of resources to help patients and families make the transition as smoothly as possible.
Teens Transition to Adulthood
Transition means changing from one thing to another, such as changing from a teen to an adult. You will learn, grow and change in lots of different ways as you become an adult.
A book from the National Healthcare Transition Center called, Journey to Adulthood: A Transition Travel Guide, is a good resource that provides teens with questions to ask and helpful information about moving from pediatric to adult health care, school to work, and into the adult world.
A good college guide for students managing chronic illness can be found here.
Health Care Transition
Health care transition means moving from pediatric (child) to adult health care. A good transition takes planning. You will need to:
• Learn to take care of your own health
• Find new doctors
• Keep your health insurance coverage or find new insurance
• Get the services you need so you can lead the kind of life you want to have
Transition Checklist for Teens
This Transition Checklist for Teens is about the skills you will need to learn to take care of your health when you become an adult. Your doctor or nurse will talk with you about the areas where you want help. If you do not understand a question, please ask your parent, nurse, or doctor for help.
Transition for Parents/Guardians
The purpose of this Transition Checklist for Parents/Caregivers is to identify issues and create a greater understanding of the skills and abilities that will help your child transition to adulthood. This will be different for every child. If you do not understand a question, please ask the nurse or doctor for help.
Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago
The following documents provide information on transitioning and can also be found on the hospital’s website:
College Planning
Education Transition
Creating a Medical Summary
Transitioning to Adult Health Care
Resource from Patient Advisory Council for IBD Accommodations created by members of the ImproveCareNow Community and the ICN Social Workers. Although this handbook was created for patients with IBD, it will help you better understand and navigate the accommodations process.