Ariana Wong, age 20, is a student at McMaster University entering her 4th year of Automotive Engineering Technology. She was diagnosed with Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis at age 15 and was treated at McMaster Children’s Hospital. She was treated by the paediatric unit before going through the transition and is now being treated by the Young Adult Clinic at Mac.
Julie Herrington is an Advanced Physiotherapist Practitioner working with both the pediatric and young adult rheumatology teams. The clinical adaptations made during the pandemic which supported young adults virtually during transition, evolved into a unique model of care that won a national clinical innovation award in 2022. She is currently involved in a 3-year pilot study investigating the impact of coaching on young adults with rheumatic diseases while they transition. She co-chairs the Advanced Practice Transition Committee at McMaster Children’s Hospital.
Dr. Mark Matsos is an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine, Division of Rheumatology, McMaster University and Head of Service for Rheumatology at Hamilton Health Sciences. His academic and clinical interests include the management of Systemic Lupus Erythematous (SLE), inflammatory arthritis and the care of young adults with pediatric onset rheumatic disease transitioning to adult care. Dr. Matsos works in close collaboration with pediatric colleagues at McMaster Children’s Hospital working to improve the care of patients with JIA and childhood onset SLE. He is the clinical lead and founder of the Young Adult Rheumatic Disease Clinic at McMaster’s Boris Clinic offering dedicated care to young adults with rheumatic illness following transition from pediatric care.
Dr. Michelle Batthish is Head of the Division of Rheumatology and an Associate Professor in the Department of Pediatrics at McMaster University. Her clinical and research interests are in improving the transition to adult care in patients with chronic disease. She sits on the Steering Committee of the Transition Hub, a national organization aiming to bridge the gap for youth and young adults transitioning from pediatric to adult health care. Michelle is also co-chair of the Transition Working Group at the Canadian Rheumatology Association.
In this week's session of Grand Rounds, the transition from pediatric to adult care is a critical time when adolescent patients and their families face many challenges. This period can be associated with an increase in disease-related morbidity and mortality. We will review the key principles of transitional care and how they have been applied to our Rheumatology Transition and Young Adult Clinics.
Objectives:
- Review the importance of transition to adult care in youth with chronic rheumatic disease
- Highlight key principles for transitional care
- Describe an innovative clinic in providing transitional care for youth with chronic rheumatic disease