Transitioning to Adult Care for Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Our Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) Transition Clinic helps teens with IBD learn how to independently manage their condition, nutrition and medical needs into adulthood.
Our care team at the IBD Transition Clinic consists of multiple providers, including a dedicated IBD transition coordinator, GI psychologist, registered dietician and licensed social worker. We work closely together to provide comprehensive, patient-focused care for teens with inflammatory bowel disease as they transition into adulthood.
We teach and empower young adults so they can thrive as they move from pediatric IBD care into adult IBD care. Our goal is to give teens the knowledge, support, tools and resources they need to take ownership of their health. This includes promoting autonomy and self-care skills. A few examples of these skills include advocating for themselves independently, managing their medications, booking appointments on their own and understanding insurance benefits.
These skills are important because they help successfully prepare teens for adulthood, which increases their overall health and quality of life.
We are here to help teens become better advocates for themselves and make the transition into adult care as smooth as possible for them and their families.
IBD care from expert providers
Pediatric gastroenterologists (doctors who specialize in care for gastrointestinal (GI) disorders) lead our skilled team of providers. The team also includes physician assistants, registered dietitians, social workers and GI psychologists. Each team member plays an important role in providing age-specific coaching and guiding young adults to take control of their own medical care.
We usually start the transition to adult care when your child is around age 14. Your child will visit the IBD Transition Clinic once a month until they reach age 18.
Over the next few years, our care focuses on teaching teens about their condition and their medications. We help them work through coping strategies to manage any pain, stress and anxiety they may have. They will also develop self-management skills so they can move toward independent care.
Helping teens take control of their health
The IBD Transition Clinic helps teens move from pediatric care to adult care by providing:
Physical and mental (psychosocial) support. A GI psychologist works with teens to evaluate their readiness for transition, emotional well-being and mental health needs.
Nutritional counseling. A dietitian teaches teens about certain foods to eat or avoid, especially during a flare-up.
Social work support. A social worker recommends financial resources to help teens understand insurance coverage, deductibles and copayments.
Medical tracking. Teens learn how to keep track of their own medical history. Medical tracking includes keeping records of their medications, immunizations, drug allergies, treatments and symptoms.
Health scheduling and communication. We teach teens how to schedule appointments and health screenings. Our patient education also includes helping your child decide when it’s time to see a doctor and how to communicate with care providers.
How the IBD transition clinic benefits teens
Helping teens transition from pediatric care to adult care is important because it teaches young adults how to advocate for themselves and take control of their own health. Our IBD Transition Clinic helps teens learn how to talk about their symptoms, the treatments that work best for them and other needs so they can feel better.
As young adults learn how to confidently care for themselves, they can monitor their health and improve their quality of life. For teens, learning how to become independent caregivers is one of the greatest skills we can teach them.
Resources to help teens thrive
Local support groups are great resources for teens who are transitioning into adult IBD care. We encourage you and your family to join a group hosted by the Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America (CCFA). Teens and families come together in these intimate gatherings to share their experiences with others who are living with IBD.
Another valuable resource is ImproveCareNow, a national organization dedicated to improving the lives of children with IBD.
