CTC-RI/PCMH Kids Welcomes New and Continuation Practices to the Health Transition of Care Learning Collaborative!

CTC-RI, with support from the Rhode Island Department of Health and Tufts Health Plan, is pleased to welcome new and continuing practices to the second Health Transition of Care Learning Collaborative. The June kickoff meeting had 26 participants representing the 4 pediatric and 3 adult practices who will be working to improve transition of care for youth and young adults, with and without special healthcare needs, as they transition from pediatric to adult care.

The National Alliance to Advance Adolescent Health presented to the kickoff attendees to provide context to health care transitions (HCT), outcome evidence, and structured HCT interventions recommended by AAP/AAFP/ACP. Key lessons learned from implementing the health care transitions program during the first learning collaborative were also shared. The presentation is available to view here.

Continuing and new practices have the unique opportunity to learn from each other during quarterly peer learning sessions and have support from a practice facilitator as they work toward improving transitions. In this second learning collaborative, continuing practices identified areas of focus that build upon their previous work to expand health transition knowledge. These activities include expanding transition activities to additional populations of patients and engaging a broader range of practices and providers within the same system of care. New practices will focus on establishing a structured approach to transitions. We look forward to sharing this great work with the larger learning community over the course of the next year.

Outcome evidence for a structured transition process has shown to have statistically significant improvement in population health, experience of care, and utilization. Youth and young adults that participated with practices in the first learning collaborative had an improved transition experience. Surveys received showed that the transition process was explained well and the young adults understood how to take ownership over their medical care to schedule appointments, obtain lab results, etc.

To learn more about transitions or to review tools and resources, please visit www.gottransition.org.