Preparation and self management
The literature available on Transition to adult care, indicates that participation and empowerment are key principles in the transition process, allowing the young person more opportunity to have a positive and effective transfer experience, therefore reducing the likelihood that young people will drop out of the health care system. Young people need to be provided with information and support to develop skills to manage their own health care and adequately prepare during the transition process for the transfer to adult care.
Health skills checklist
The Health Care Skills Checklist is a tool to assist young people to develop skills they will need for managing their own health care once they transfer to the adult system. It is expected that this document will be shared between parents, young people and health care professionals to review the skills the young person is developing. It will assist in determining when/if the young person is ready to negotiate the adult world.
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Healthcare skills checklist (Word)
MyHealth Passports
MyHealth Passport is a resource developed by The Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids) in Toronto, Canada and is a wallet sized passport of health information for young people to use in an emergency or during appointments with health professionals where they can show the information and not have to constantly repeat their story. This resource allows young people to learn about their health care, and be more independent and responsible for their health care. It provides information about the young person's medical condition, medications, medical contact numbers and other relevant information.
It is advisable that the MyHealth Passport is created and developed with both the young person and their health care professional to ensure accuracy of information and allows the opportunity for young people to ask questions about their health and health care history. It is advisable that the young person sits in front of the computer and types the information in themselves to ensure ownership and an understanding of their health issues.
This resource does not replace the need for health professionals to provide the young person, their family and the adult health care provider with a summary of their health care for the transfer to adult care. All patients transferred to adult care require a summary of their health care to be completed.
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Create a MyHealth Passport (select the relevant template to use for your patient's medical condition).
Other ways to prepare young people for adult health care
Please print out any other sections of this website that would be of use to your patient/family and include brochures/documents relevant to your patient group including any information of adult clinics your department refers patients to.
For further information on courses for clinicians in working with adolescents, providing information on promoting self management in young people, or managing adolescents please contact the Centre for Adolescent Health on 9345 5890.