Transition Practices in Wisconsin Health Care Systems: What Do We Know?

Julie Hajewski, MSN, ANP-C; Lynn Hrabik, MPH, RDN; Claire Stelter, MEd, PhD; Anne Harris, PhD, MPH, RDN

WMJ. 2024;123(4):296-299.

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ABSTRACT

Background: The transition from youth to adult health care is a complex process, and only 25% of all youth and less than 35% of youth with special health care needs in Wisconsin receive support.

Objectives: This article describes the process and results from the Wisconsin Youth Health Transition Initiative’s assessment of transition support provided in health care.

Methods: Key informant interviews were undertaken with clinicians from several Wisconsin health care systems.

Results: Fifty percent of health care systems interviewed had a formal policy or guideline supporting health care transition. Additionally, several barriers consistent with national trends were confirmed.

Conclusions: Health care transition for Wisconsin youth remains suboptimally supported in practice. Continued funding and work towards this important maternal and child health objective are needed.

Author Affiliations: Waisman Center, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Madison, Wisconsin (Hrabik, Harris [retired]); Departments of Medicine, General Internal Medicine, University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation, Madison, Wisconsin (Hajewski); University of Illinois, Urbana, Illinois (Stelter)
Corresponding Author: Julie Hajewski, MSN, A-NP, APNP, University of Wisconsin Medical Foundation, Department of Medicine, General Internal Medicine, 1685 Highland Ave, Madison, WI 53705; phone 608.217.7352; email jhajewski@wisc.edu.
Funding/Support: This work was funded by the Wisconsin Department of Health Services Maternal and Child Health Block grant on a contract with the Waisman Center University Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities at the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Financial Disclosures: None declared.

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