Scotiabank Youth Transition Program

• Appointments may be longer. 
• Environment is colourful.
• Your testing and appointment are often on the same day. 
• Rich in resources and may be a one stop shop for all your healthcare needs. 
• If you miss an appointment, you will be contacted to reschedule. 
• Your healthcare team will involve family or caregivers in your care. 
• Pediatric teams are more directive in their approach and will share decision making with your parents or caregivers.
• Health care services and appointments are often arranged by the pediatric team and not by yourself and your family doctor.

• Appointments may be shorter. 
• Environment may lack colour.
• Your testing and appointment may be on different days. 
• You may need to access support in the community and through your family doctor. Your healthcare team can help you with this. 
• If you miss an appointment, you may not be contacted to reschedule. Always try to let the clinic know if you cannot make your appointment. 
• Your healthcare team would like to hear from you, but you are welcome to bring a support person to your appointment if you wish. 
• Adult teams are more consultative and will build a plan of care with you. 
• You will be expected to arrange your health care services and appointments with the help of your family doctor.

• Review the topics outlined below about how to prepare and what to expect. This will help to answer some questions you may have about adult care. 
• Identify topics you wish to discuss during your appointment – the topics below can provide a list of example questions or topics. 
• Start to do some self-care tasks on your own. This could include getting medications from the pharmacy, getting bloodwork done, and booking appointments.

Also, see your family doctor during this time. They should know about your transition to an adult care team so they can help support your needs. 

While you may not be completely independent with your health care, start to take on more responsibility to prepare for your future. 

Building independence includes things like: 

• Making your own health care decisions. 
• Scheduling appointments. 
• Attending appointments independently. 
• Managing your own medications. 
• Keeping an ongoing health record. 

Tips for building independence

1. Bring a list of questions or concerns about your health with you to your appointment. 
2. Set reminders for your upcoming appointments in the calendar app on your phone. 
3. Add your adult specialist, other health care providers and pharmacy information to your contacts. 
4. Get directions before your appointment using Google Maps. Check TransLink for transit information. 
5. Attend at least part of your appointment on your own. You can bring a support person (e.g. parents and family members) with you to your appointment, but during your appointment, we want to hear from you. 
6. Store pictures of your medication labels on your phone to prepare you for your appointments. 
7. Check your pill containers for refills and always make sure you have one refill available. 
8. Follow your drug plan and talk to your parents about their medical and health benefits and to what age you will be covered. 
9. If you take Special Authority Medications, talk to your adult care team about how to continue to get these paid for in adulthood. 
10. Keep an ongoing health record of tests, procedures and medications to be on top of your health and health care. 

If you are worried about how you are coping at any stage with being more independent, it is important that you speak to someone who can help you. A good place to start is your parents or your health care team. 

Your healthcare team keeps details of your care private and only discusses health information with others if you agree. There are some very limited situations when there is a need for healthcare providers to share your personal information. 

Learn more about health information privacy at Providence Health Care.

Transition to adult care can be a challenging time for your parents and families as they adjust to you doing things more on your own. Keep your family connected by talking to them about your transition and letting them know about ways they can support you.

Depending on your medications you may have different doctors refilling your prescriptions. Your specialist doctor will usually only refill the medications that they prescribe. 

Talk to your adult health care team to find out which prescriptions they will refill for you and which ones you need to see your family doctor to refill. 

Think about and talk about your future health. Start by having conversations with your close family, friends and health care provider(s). Let them know the health care treatment you would want in case you become incapable of expressing your own wishes.  

When you write down your wishes you are creating an Advance Care Plan. As part of your advance care planning process, you may want to create a representation agreement. To make a representation agreement, write instructions and name someone to make decisions for you if you can't. 

For more information about Advance Care Planning: 

• My Voice 
• BC Centre for Pallative Care 

As a patient, you have the right to access your medical information. 

If you just want to see information in your chart you can ask a staff member (e.g. physician, nurse) to review your medical record with you. They can help to interpret information and answer any questions you have. 

If you want a copy of your written chart, you can request a copy from Health Records Services. 

If someone other than you, the patient, (e.g. parents or guardians) requests access to a chart, you must provide consent and this must be noted in your chart. If the patient is unable to give consent, then the person making the request must be the “Substitute Decision Maker” before access can be given. 

Learn more about accessing your health records.

• How to manage your health condition 
• How your condition impacts your daily life, such as school, work, activity, etc. 
• How drugs, alcohol, tobacco or vaping affects your health condition 
• How your health condition affects your sexual health and family planning 
• Potential issues related to your condition and what can you do to reduce the risk of developing them 

You may find it helpful to bring someone with you to your appointment. We may want to see you alone for some parts of your visits with us and it is important that we hear from you. 

Before you leave your appointment, you should confirm the following with your team: 

• When is your next appointment 
• If you have been referred to another specialist 
• If you need imaging or lab tests 
• If you need a new prescription or need refills for your medication(s) 
• That the office has your current contact information

If you see a specialist for a health condition, they will provide the majority of care related to that condition. This includes ordering tests, prescribing medications, and determining a plan for treatment. It is important that you have a family doctor as well as they are a vital part of your health care team. 

You should meet with a family doctor or nurse practitioner regularly. They help provide overall care and are someone you can contact for many services specialists don't provide. Your family doctor or nurse practitioner can care for many injuries and illnesses. They can help to arrange specialized care when needed. They maintain your medical record and share medical information on your behalf with other care providers you are seeing.

Family doctors in BC provide a range of different service, which include: 

• Treatment of common illnesses and injuries 
• Preventative care, including health promotion and disease prevention 
• Basic emergency services 
• Lifestyle related health care (eg. smoking cessation, maintaining a healthy weight) 
• Community health 
• Primary mental health care 
• Immunizations 
• Rehabilitation 
• Pre-natal and maternity care 
• End-of-life care and planning 
• Referrals to/coordination with other levels of care (such as hospitals and specialist care) 

Learn more about finding a family doctor in BC. 

If you don’t feel like you’re clicking with your adult care team, talk to them about what your options are. 

If you’ve talked to your team about your care and you aren't getting the answers you need you can consider talking to the Patient Care Quality Office.

• Vancouver Parents Transition Group 
• Preparing to Access CLBC Supports (Community Living BC) 
• Resources (FamilySmart) 

If you can’t find the right resource to meet your needs talk to your health care team. 

• Transitioning Responsibly to Adult Care (ON TRAC) 
• Youth Quiz (PDF) 
• Parent Family Checklist (PDF) 
• ONTRAC Transition to Adult Care Timeline (PDF) 
• Your Future Now - A Transition Planning & Resource Guide for Youth with Special Needs (BC Children's | PDF) 
• Transition to adult care Learning Hub (aboutkidshealth.ca) 
• Got Transition® 

• Pacific Community Resources Society
  • Provides youth and family support, education programs, employment services, addiction counselling and prevention, and housing support 
• BC 211
  • Free and confidential service that connects people to social, government, and community resources within their region 
• Community | Pathways BC
  • List of community services by region
  • Once you click on a region, you can specify “Youth Services” to see youth specific resources 
• Community Living BC
  • Support for adults with developmental disabilities, autism and fetal alcohol spectrum disorder 
• QMUNITY
  • BC'S queer, trans, and Two-Spirit resource centre 
• Disability Alliance of BC 
• Find a Family Doctor (BC College of Family Physicians) 

• Find a Dentist (yourdentalhealth.ca) 
• Reduced Cost Dental Clinics (yourdentalhealth.ca) 

• QuitNow 
• Talk Tobacco (smokershelpline.ca) 
• DrugCocktails.ca
  • Facts about mixing medicine, booze and street drugs 

• EducationPlannerBC 
• StudentAid BC 
• Post-secondary disability services contacts (StudentAidBC) 

• WorkBC 
• BC Centre For Ability 

• Assistive Technology BC 
• Technology for Living with Disabilities 

• Income Assistance (Gov't of BC) 
• Employment Insurance (Gov't of Canada) 
• BC Disability Benefits Help Sheets | DABC (disabilityalliancebc.org) 
• Financial Empowerment Program with Family Services of Greater Vancouver 

• Medical Services Plan (MSP) for BC Residents (Gov't of BC) 
• BC PharmaCare (Gov't of BC) 
• First Nations Health Authority Health Benefits Guide (PDF) 
• PharmaCare Special Authority (SA) 

• Care Options and Costs (Gov't of BC) 
• Choice in Supports for Independent Living (Gov't of BC) 
• BC Caregiver support line  (Family Caregivers BC) 

• BC Housing 
• Rent Smart Resources 
• Tenancy & Housing - Ask an Advocate 

• First Nations Health Authority 
• BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres 
• Indigenous Wellness Program (Providence Health Care)

• Access Pro Bono 
• Legal Aid BC - Free legal help for BC residents 
• People's Law School 
• Advance Care Planning (Gov't of BC) 
• My Voice: Expressing My Wishes for Future Health Care Treatment (PDF) 
• Advance Care Planning Resources (BC Centre for Palliative Care) 

• Foundry Virtual BC 
• Kelty Mental Health 
•  BC Crisis Line 1-800-SUICIDE - If you’re having suicidal thoughts or you’re concerned about someone who is, call 1-800-784-2433. The service is available 24/7 in over 100 languages. 
• HealthLink BC - 24/7 Health Advice You Can Trust  

• Social Services Camping Fee Exemption (BC Parks) 
• Accessible Recreation Resources in BC (ConnecTra Society) 

• Sexual and Reproductive Health Care and Education (Options for Sexual Health) 
• SmartSex Resource 

• Medical Travel Accommodation (Gov't of B.C.) 
• Travel Assistance Program (TAP BC) 
• Health Connections (Gov't of B.C.) 
• Travelling with disabilities - Travel.gc.ca (Gov't of Canada)