As a parent, you’ve probably taken your child to most or all of their healthcare appointments. If your child is a teen and approaching adulthood, you won’t be responsible for scheduling their visits and discussing their health concerns much longer. They’re probably excited—and a little nervous—about assuming this responsibility.
Switching doctors from the pediatrician they’ve known for years to a new primary care or internal medicine doctor can be scary. A lot goes into managing your healthcare that your child may not know. Fortunately, you can help them with this transition of care, says Anna Overmann, MD, an internal medicine specialist with The Christ Hospital Physicians-Primary Care.
“As our kids get older, they need to be comfortable speaking one-on-one with a provider about their health concerns,” she says. “It’s our job to help them build those communication skills. We can encourage them to start taking ownership of their healthcare and empower them to speak for themselves during medical appointments.”
Put your child in the driver’s seat
Giving your child a more active role in their doctor’s visits should start earlier than you think, Dr. Overmann says. Don’t wait until they’re about to graduate from high school or move into college.
“Once they’re 14, start including your child in conversations with their pediatrician. Show them how to discuss their health concerns and their health history. Give them an opportunity to explain things on their own,” she says. “It’s important to make sure that they can talk about their medications, conditions and the symptoms that bother them with someone else.”
Although you should still be present during most of their visits, give your child time to talk with their pediatrician alone. As they get older, teens may have questions or concerns they aren’t comfortable addressing in front of a parent. For example, they may want to discuss body changes individually with their doctor.
Additional preparation for teens with chronic or complex conditions
Some teens may need more help moving from pediatric to adult healthcare due to existing conditions that require more frequent follow-up or that might be co-managed with a specialist. These could be chronic or complex conditions such as diabetes, asthma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), or autism. In these cases, Dr. Overmann recommends actively engaging your child’s pediatrician for help.
“Talking to your pediatrician about other providers in the area can help you get plugged into the network of healthcare professionals that your child needs,” she says. “They may have suggestions about a new adult primary care doctor who could be a good fit. Or they can point you to specialists or other resources in your community.”
With this information, you can introduce your teen to their new provider or community programs early. This way, they have time to build a relationship and get comfortable before they fully transition to adult healthcare.
Tips for a successful transition to adult healthcare
Even though most teens are healthy and have few medical conditions, it’s still important to encourage them to choose and establish regular visits with an adult primary care or internal medicine provider. If they do, they will have an easier time getting care if problems do pop up.
But navigating the healthcare system can feel like an enormous task for a young person, Dr. Overmann says.
“The healthcare system is incredibly complex, even for adults. So, it’s understandable that it can be overwhelming for a young person when they first start to control their own healthcare,” she says. “Fortunately, there are several ways that parents or caregivers can help them prepare for this transition of medical care.”
To streamline this process, Dr. Overmann suggests offering guidance on:
Accessing MyChart: The electronic medical record app MyChart gives your child easy access to their scheduled appointments, test results, medical history, billing and more. Help them download the app or access it via the web and create an account. Then, show them how to use the app to communicate directly with their new provider’s office.
Appointment scheduling: If your child is over age 17, have them call their pediatrician or log into MyChart to schedule their appointment. It’s great practice to call a new provider. Sit with them when they call so you can answer any questions they may have.
Choosing a provider: Let your teen know it’s OK to shop around for a new primary care or internal medicine provider. If the first one they visit isn’t a good fit, they should try a different provider or practice. Consider going with your teen to their first few visits with a new provider to help them get comfortable.
Identifying care away from home: For teens who will be away from home for college or other reasons, it can be helpful to make sure they identify healthcare resources and contact information for on-campus clinics and other options before they actually need them. They can save this information in their phone or other notable locations to make it easier to quickly access care while they are away from home.
Deciding on a goal: Every health-related appointment should have a purpose. Help your child determine what they want from each visit. Encourage them to write down questions or concerns for their provider. For example, they may need a seasonal vaccine, medication refill or have questions about a new symptom.
Explaining family history: Major medical conditions, such as heart disease or certain cancers, can run in families. Be sure your child knows if—and at what age—any first-degree relatives (like a parent or grandparent) received a diagnosis.
Explaining insurance information: Healthcare insurance can be complicated and confusing. Give your teen their own insurance card, and make sure they understand which doctors are covered by your plan. Teach them how to read their medical statements and pay those bills.
Refilling prescriptions: Walk your child through calling the pharmacy to request refills for their prescription medication. They should know where to find their prescription numbers and the number of refills they have left for each medication. They can note refill dates on a calendar and use all of that information to plan ahead on scheduling required check-ups for long-term medications to ensure they don’t run out.
Sharing medical history: Teens should have a list of their medical conditions, allergies and any previous procedures. They should also ask their pediatrician to send their complete medical record, including immunizations, medications and allergies, to the new primary care or internal medicine provider. Childhood health concerns can have long-term impacts. Knowing about these issues helps the new provider deliver the best quality care.
Ultimately, Dr. Overmann says, following these tips can help your teen successfully pivot to adult healthcare and set them up for a lifetime of better well-being.
“Helping teens make the leap from pediatric to adult care is an important responsibility as a parent or caregiver. You’re encouraging your teen to spread their wings and start taking responsibility for their healthcare for good,” Dr. Overmann says. “But, as they’re starting this process, it’s important that they know they’re not out there all on their own right away—it’s important they know you’re there.”