Transition Medicine
Nearly 90% of children born today with a chronic or disabling condition will live more than 20 years—thank to advances in health care. However, the health of these individuals can deteriorate if there’s not a smooth transition from pediatric to adult health care. This is the case for 60% of the 500 youth with special medical needs who transition to adult health care in the U.S. each year.
That’s why one of our priorities at Texas Children’s Hospital is transition medicine—the planned process of moving a pediatric patient into the adult health care system so their health and ability to function is optimized.
What We’re Doing
• Developing successful care transition programs for patients with specific conditions
• Developing individualized transition plans for young patients as they age out of pediatric care.
• Conducting collaborative research that directly translates to improved patient care
• Helping to train physicians in both internal medicine and pediatrics
• Raising awareness in the community
• Partnering with the Baylor College of Medicine Transition Medicine Clinic—the only clinic of its kind in Texas and one of only a few in the country—which serves more than 350 special needs patients between the ages of 14 and 25
• Texas Children’s Hospital is committed to becoming a leader in the field of transition medicine and to creating a model care program for institutions across the U.S.
For more information or to make a contribution, please contact Texas Children’s Office of Development:
Kristen Miller
832-824-2937
kamiller@texaschildrens.org
Texas Children’s Hospital
Office of Development
Suite 5214
P.O. Box 300630
Houston, TX 77230-0630
