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Abstract Details

Transition from Pediatric to Adult Epilepsy Care: A Multi-Disciplinary Approach
Epilepsy/Clinical Neurophysiology (EEG)
P14 - Poster Session 14 (8:00 AM-9:00 AM)
12-006
To describe preliminary data from a pilot program for transition of pediatric patients with epilepsy to adult care.
There are numerous barriers to successful transition, particularly for those with special needs. After over a decade of effort, widespread implementation of health care transition for youth with special health care needs has not been fully realized.
In collaboration with colleagues regionally and nationally, a pilot program at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital (MGUH) was launched to ensure an effective transition of care (for youth and adolescents) to an adult epilepsy care model. As a part of this initiative, patients were seen in a multi-disciplinary visit by both a pediatric and adult neurologist. Transition readiness was assessed using the Child Neurology Foundation’s Transitions Tools including the Transition Readiness Assessment.
A consecutive cohort of 10 patients treated in the transitions clinic was examined. The average patient age was 19 years (min: 15 years, max: 21 years). Patients demonstrated a wide spectrum of ability to participate in medical decision making and care for self. Anti-epileptic drugs (AEDs) were variable with average number of 1.5 AEDs per patient. 4/10 patients (40%) had medically intractable epilepsy. 3/10 patients had a generalized epilepsy syndrome including 2 patients with juvenile myoclonic epilepsy. Patients and caregivers who completed a Transition Readiness Assessment (5/10) rated the importance of caring for one’s own health a 9 (average) on a scale of 1 (not important) to 10 (very important) and rated their confidence in caring for self a 6.8 (average) on a scale of 1 to 10.
Youth and adolescents with epilepsy have a wide range of abilities and will benefit from an individualized assessment to foster independence and promote medical decision making. The CNF's Transitions Tools are a valuable resource and can assist providers in identifying the needs of individual patients. 
Authors/Disclosures
Nassim Zecavati, MD, FÂ鶹´«Ã½Ó³»­ (Children's Hospital of Richmond at Virginia Commonwealth University)
PRESENTER 		Dr. Zecavati has nothing to disclose.
Francis Tirol, MD (Georgetown University Medical Center) No disclosure on file