Transition of Care of Pediatric Patients with Special Needs to Adult Care Settings: Children with Diabetes Mellitus and Other Endocrine Disorders.

Childhood onset endocrine disorders need long-term medical, psychological and social management. Over time, many illnesses evolve, while others may witness onset of new complications. Thus, the components of the care change as the child grows into adolescence and then adulthood. The transition of children and adolescents with chronic endocrine disorders to adult care continues to be a major challenge. Pediatric and adult healthcare teams should together design a transitional care plan that is developmentally appropriate and responsive to the needs of young adults. The preparation for transition to adult care should begin early in adolescence and involve both the adolescent and his parents. A structured and planned transitional care bridges the gap between pediatric and adult care teams, promote ongoing engagement and build trust with the new healthcare teams. Combined pediatric-adult care transition model for endocrine conditions has yielded high adherence rates and patient satisfaction.