Pictured: Emma, 17, with her parents Darlene and Chris
January 30, 2025
Children’s Hospital at London Health Sciences Centre (LHSC) has launched a new team designed to support paediatric patients as they transition from youth to adult care.
The Transitions in Care team is a multidisciplinary group of professionals, including Transition Navigators, Educational Liaisons, Child Life Specialists and Indigenous Wellness Consultants, that work together to ensure each paediatric patient is set up for success when they enter the adult health-care system.
“This is a big step in helping young people get the guidance they need during such a complex time,” says Kelly Finlayson, Director at Children's Hospital. “Before, there were no central resources to help young patients prepare. Now, we can offer a caring, patient-focused program starting at age 12 that empowers them to play an active role in their own health-care journey.”
Children’s Hospital at LHSC is one of the first to standardize transition support across multiple departments, setting a new standard of care for other paediatric hospitals.
Supporting transitions in care
At 18 years of age, patients age out of paediatric care and move into the adult health-care system, which means they also leave behind many services that have supported them since childhood.
“This can be a stressful time for many patients,” says Erin Rawlings, Transition Navigator "However, research shows beginning to prepare them early sets them up for success. That's where we come in.”
The Transitions in Care team works alongside the patient's care team to assess readiness and develop an individualized plan to ensure a smooth transition.
They begin by introducing the idea of transitioning to adult care around age 12-14, followed by goal setting from ages 14-16 and skill development from 16-18. The team will then follow each patient until age 21 to ensure their transition was successful.
Supporting transitions in education
Many patients will also experience at least one education transition during their time at Children’s Hospital. This might include starting school for the first time, moving from one school to another, changing grades or transitioning from school to hospital and back again.
The Transitions in Care team will guide patients through these milestones, helping them advocate for their needs and ensuring they receive age-appropriate and developmentally suitable support for their physical, social-emotional, and academic well-being.
“Every child, whether they’re missing a few school days each month for outpatient appointments or being admitted as an inpatient, deserves a smooth transition,” explains Rawlings.
Emma's experience
Emma, a 17-year-old patient at Children’s Hospital, was nervous about her upcoming transition to adult care. Before working with the Transitions in Care team, she had many questions about what might change. She would often ask her parents things like, “When I get to adult care, will there still be butterflies on the wall? What’s it going to look like?”
Emma’s mother, Darlene, was also worried about Emma entering the adult health-care system, but she now says she feels relieved.
“The progress Emma has made with her confidence and self-advocacy has been beautiful to see as a mom,” Darlene shared. “I feel as if I can finally step back and let Emma take the lead in her care, thanks to this extra layer of support she has received at Children’s Hospital.”
