Transitioning from Pediatric to Adult Care

For teenagers living with a chronic illness, gaining more responsibility for their health, their life and moving towards adulthood can be an exciting and challenging time.

Transitioning from Pediatric to Adult Care

​For teenagers living with a chronic illness, gaining more responsibility for their health, their life and moving towards adulthood can be an exciting and challenging time.

Key Points

During the transition process, key points to remember:
  1. Start early − begin planning by age 14
  2. Remember that "transition" is a process, not an event
  3. Get help from your current pediatric healthcare team
  4. Involve teens in decisions, and empower them with more independence
  5. Transfer to adult care should not happen during a medical crisis

Successful Transition Tips

To transition successfully, you will need to: 

Transitioning Programs

Lurie Children's SAILS (Supporting Adolescents with Independent Life Skills) program offers a six-week program to teach teens to prepare for their future in work, college and managing their health care and a fun place to meet other teens. Another program, the Transition Clinic, operates on a referral basis for help with transition support for complicated patients.

SAILS Information

Where: Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago 225 E. Chicago Ave. Chicago, IL 60611

When: Wednesday evenings for 6 weeks from 5:30-7:30 pm. Call for upcoming dates.
(Please note, we ask that you plan to attend all 6 weeks)

Group Leaders:

  • Rebecca Boudos, Social Worker, Transition Specialist
  • Parag Shah MD, Transition Team Director
  • Expert guest speakers
Cost: The six-week session is FREE and a light dinner will be provided. Parking is FREE too! 

Transition Clinic

The Lurie Children's Transition Clinic operates on a referral basis for help with transition support for complicated patients. The Transition Clinic is staffed by an MD and a Social Worker and prepares patients for transition by maximizing their independence, preparing them with skills, knowledge, and resources regarding benefits, insurance, guardianship, and community programs. Download the referral form here (PDF). 

Where: Lurie Children's Hospital Outpatient Center, 467 West Deming Building, 6th floor, Chicago, IL 60614; Call 1800KIDSDOC for appointments 
When: Every other Monday, 8:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. 
Staffing:
  • Rebecca Boudos, MSW
  • Parag Shah, MD

Contact Rebecca Boudos, LCSW at 312-227-6391 or rboudos@luriechildrens.org​ if you are interested in joining the SAILS Program or the Transition Clinic.