Our Project - Health Care Transitions

Promising Practices in Health Care Transition (NIDRR)
The Promising Practices in Health Care Transition is one of five projects being carried out through the Consortium for Children and Youth with Disabilities and Special Health Care Needs. This Consortium is funded through a Rehabilitation Research and Training Center Grant from the National Institute on Disability and Rehabilitation Research. The Promising Practices in Health Care Transition research project is located at the Transition Initiative the University of Florida. The principal investigator is John G. Reiss, Ph.D. and the Co-PI and project coordinator is Robert W. Gibson, Ph.D., MSOTR/L.

The initial research activity sought to better understand the process of health care transition from the perspective of the individuals directly involved in transition. Focus groups and individual interviews with nearly 150 young adults representing a range of disabling conditions and special health care needs, family members and health care providers were conducted. Results from this qualitative study were published in Pediatrics Vol. 115 No. 1 January 2005.

A second research project involving interviews with adult-oriented health care providers is currently in progress.

In addition to research this project also supports training and information sharing activities such as conference presentation, training session, technical assistance, the Health Care Transition Web Site and the Health Care Transition List Serve. Integrating Health Care Transition into Existing Public School Transition Strategies for Children with Special Health Care Needs

Health Care Transition and the Schools (ICARE)
This research activity was funded by a grant from the Institute for Child and Adolescent Research and Education at the University of Florida. PI’s for the grant were Jeanne Repetto, Ph.D and John G. Reiss, Ph.D. The research involved two related activities. A survey of health care transition knowledge, attitudes and practices was conducted of nearly 200 individuals who participate in school based transition committees (Project Connect Committees) in the state of Florida. Additionally a six unit health care transition training curriculum for middle and high school students was developed and pilot tested. At this time results of the survey and curriculum are being analyzed.

Health Care Transition for Florida's Youth with
Special Health Care Needs (CMS)
Health Care Transition of Youth Served by Florida’s Children’s Medical Services Program

Our research project on the health care transition of youth served by Florida’s Children’s Medical Services Program has two components. The first involves gathering information from family, youth, young adult served by the CMS Program to determine what transition-related services and supports have been received; to identify transition-related needs, barriers, experiences, and solicit suggestions for improving the health care transition process.

The second component of the project involves gathering information from selected CMS Program providers and clinics to gather information about their health care transition related practices, policies, needs, experiences and to solicit recommendations for improving health care transition services and supports.

This research project will focus on the health care transition needs and experiences of youth with Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders; Cystic Fibrosis; Diabetes; Epilepsy; Sickle Cell Disease; and Spina Bifida.

This research project is scheduled to be completed in June, 2006. The principal investigator is John G. Reiss, Ph.D. and the Co-PI and project coordinator is Robert W. Gibson, Ph.D., MSOTR/L.