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Transitioning to Adult Care

Switching from pediatric to adult care can be very challenging for many of our patients. Beginning treatment with a different doctor and care team is often a big adjustment, not to mention the new school or work environments patients encounter as they grow up. Our Chronic Care Transition Team helps our teenage patients ease into their new surroundings through our programs and support. We are committed to making sure these patients have continued access to high-quality health care throughout their adult lives.

Approach

We make sure we’re involved in every aspect possible of the transition process and are as helpful to our patients as possible. Our team is in constant collaboration with clinical areas to make sure we’re completely aware of a patient’s situation, and that they will be well-prepared for their transition to adult care.

Clinical Collaboration

The Chronic Care Transition Team works closely with our patients' clinical teams to:

Build relationships with adult providers for primary and specialty care
Develop comprehensive, efficient and satisfactory methods for care transfers
Improve readiness of young adult patients to transfer care
Prepare young adults to enter the adult world with regards to professional and social maturity
Ensure patients and families are aware of all public benefits and insurance opportunities
Support specialty clinics to implement transition programming

Our Specialists

The team is led by Parag Shah, MD. Dr. Shah is the Chronic Illness Transition Team Medical Director and a hospitalist physician who works primarily with children with chronic illness.

Angela Berger, LCSW, is the Manager and Social Worker for the Transition to Adult Care team. She brings to the team over 20 years of experience working across numerous medical specialties. Most recently, she spent five years as the Pulmonary & Sleep Medicine and Cystic Fibrosis Center social worker at Lurie Children’s where she focused on transitioning youth.

Appointments

The Lurie Children's Transition Program operates on a referral basis to provide transition support for complicated patients. Patients should call 1.800.543.7362 (1.800.KIDS DOC®) to make an appointment after referral or visit our Appointments page for more information. Clinic typically is held the fourth Monday of the month in the mornings and the fourth Friday of the month in the afternoons.

Resources & Support

We have various resources in English and Spanish for teens beginning to transfer their care.

Learn More

Research

Our team regularly participates in care transition studies to:

Improve transition methods
Better understand adolescent- and transition-related issues

Education for Patients, Families & Providers

We’re committed to educating patients, families and providers about the transition process. We provide training and guidance in the following areas:

Transition competency training for providers
Transition preparation education for patients, families and the community
Education for outside medical providers on the adult healthcare needs of our patients

Contact Us

We can be reached about any questions or concerns at 312.227.5356 or transitionteam@luriechildrens.org.

Philanthropy

Your support is vital in helping us continue to make a difference in the lives of patients and families. Lurie Children's relies on philanthropic funding to enhance its programs, services and research for children. To learn more, please e-mail the Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago Foundation at foundation@luriechildrens.org or call 312.227.7500.

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