Faculty Collaboration Database

Improving the quality of transition and transfer of care in young adults with congenital heart disease. Congenit Heart Dis 2017 May;12(3):242-250

Date

06/06/2017

Pubmed ID

28580608

DOI

10.1111/chd.12463

Scopus ID

2-s2.0-85020195372 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site)   39 Citations

Abstract

The transition and transfer from pediatric to adult care is becoming increasingly important as improvements in the diagnosis and management of congenital heart disease allow patients to live longer. Transition is a complex and continuous process that requires careful planning. Inadequate transition has adverse effects on patients, their families and healthcare delivery systems. Currently, significant gaps exist in patient care as adolescents transfer to adult care and there are little data to drive the informed management of transition and transfer of care in adolescent congenital heart disease patients. Appropriate congenital heart disease care has been shown to decrease mortality in the adult population. This paper reviews the transition and transfer of care processes and outlines current congenital heart disease specific guidelines in the United States and compares these recommendations to Canadian and European guidelines. It then reviews perceived and real barriers to successful transition and identifies predictors of success during transfer to adult congenital heart disease care. Lastly, it explores how disease-specific markers of outcomes and quality indicators are being utilized to guide transition and transfer of care in other chronic childhood illnesses, and identifies existing knowledge gaps and structural impediments to improving the management of transition and transfer among congenital heart disease patients.

Author List

Everitt IK, Gerardin JF, Rodriguez FH 3rd, Book WM

Author

Jennifer Gerardin MD Assistant Professor in the Pediatrics department at Medical College of Wisconsin

MESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold

Adult
Child
Heart Defects, Congenital
Humans
Quality Improvement
Transition to Adult Care
Young Adult