Transition clinic bridges gap in care for young people with disabilities

Quincy, Illinois television station WGEM highlighted the University of Cincinnati's Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation transition clinic led by Jensine’ J. Clark that helps patients like Tamia Craig move from pediatric to adult care.

Craig, 27, was born with cerebral palsy and has been in and out of hospitals her entire life. But as more patients with pediatric-onset disabilities like her live longer, they and their families can sometimes feel anxiety about moving from the pediatric care team some have known their whole lives to moving to adult care. The transition clinic helps ease this anxiety.

“Now they’re adults, now they’re 30 and 40 and maybe the pediatric setting is not the best place to care for them,” Clark, MD, assistant professor in the Department of Neurology and Rehabilitation Medicine in UC’s College of Medicine and a UC Health physician, told WGEM.

“She does need adult care because she’s got an adult body,” Tamia's mother Kristine Craig said. "[Clark] knew what things we needed to know. And it was amazing."

Another factor the transition team helps with is to make sure that the clinic is accessible to all patients, regardless of their mobility level. This means considering factors such as adjustable tables for easy transfers, wheelchair-accessible scales, and ample space for families with various seating options.

Read or watch the WGEM story.

Read more about the PM&R and epilepsy transition clinics at UC.

Featured photo at top of the UC Gardner Neuroscience Institute. Photo/University of Cincinnati.