Giving Compass' Take:

• Brian Consignio describes the importance of providing a smooth transition from pediatric to adult health care to mitigate the effects of chronic diseases.

• How can engagement and ease of access in adult health care help young people with chronic illnesses avoid complications? What can we do to make sure the transition from pediatric to adult health care is equally seamless in marginalized communities?

• Read about how health care practices -- past and present -- neglect Black lives in the United States.

Approximately 90% of children diagnosed with a chronic disease now live into adulthood, according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.

However, many young people who age out of the often nurturing and supportive pediatric health care system struggle to identify a new adult health care provider, and often lack knowledge of their health history and have trouble navigating the complex adult health care system.

To reduce avoidable hospitalizations and ensure young adults with chronic disease continue to seek care into adulthood, researchers identified factors that could positively influence health outcomes after transitioning to the adult health care system.

“Our objective is to close the gap between the pediatric and adult heath care systems by making the transition as seamless, comfortable, and welcoming as possible,” says Maureen Varty, a doctoral student in the University of Missouri Sinclair School of Nursing.

“By working with young adults to help them access care, we can better monitor chronic diseases and prevent complications that could lead to hospitalizations down the road.”

Assisting adolescents with basic health care tasks like identifying a provider, scheduling an appointment, filling a prescription, understanding their health history, and differentiating among various insurance policies will help them become more self-sufficient as they age and become independent adults, Varty says.

Read the full article about transitioning to adult health care by Brian Consiglio at Futurity.