Creating a Better Transition of Care

Timeline 2016 - 2019

My Contributions

• Project co-lead

• Conducted over 60 interviews

• Synthesis of research findings

• Design sprint

• Prototyping co-design activities

• Prototyping and implementing chatbot

• Visual communication

• Co-design and facilitation of workshops

• Co-author on publication of pilot study

Location University of Vermont Medical Center - Burlington, Vermont

The Team

Jeremy Beaudry (Lead Healthcare Designer, hiCOlab)

Alyssa Consigli, RD (Project Director, Vermont Child Health Improvement Program, UVM College of Medicine)

Keith Robinson, MD (Director of Quality Improvement, UVM Children’s Hospital)

Project Context

The Vermont Child Health Improvement (VCHIP) program invited our team to help create tools and supporting materials for adolescent patients with chronic illnesses to assist them in their journey toward adulthood. For adolescents with chronic illnesses transitioning from pediatric specialty care to the world of adult specialty care is full of challenges. Often adolescents receive diagnoses when they are young and detailed knowledge of their disease management is held by their guardian. Once they turn 18, they suddenly go from being dependent on others in the medical system to the system viewing them as completely medically independent. This drastic change occurs during an important developmental stage when an increase in negative clinical outcomes is all too common.

Insights

• Young adults prefer hands-on education and expect a native digital format for information.

• Important indicators of patient readiness for transition include adherence to treatment guidelines, knowledge of the disease, and confidence.

• Self advocacy is an essential soft skill necessary for a successful transition.

• Patients and families value the conversation supported by the visual timeline tool.

• Patients value the opportunity to collaborate with and learn from their peers in the workshop format.

Outcomes

• Visual timeline tool for guiding conversations among families about the transition of care process.

• Introductory workshop to engage adolescents in identifying self-care skills they need to develop.

• SMS based chatbot to provide resources and supports at specific time points.

• IRB approved pilot study to test feasibility of a program featuring a workshop and the SMS based chatbot.

• Publication in the Journal of Pediatric Nursing

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