Scotiabank Youth Transition Program

The Scotiabank Youth Transition Program (SYTP) is being developed to provide a comprehensive model of care for youth patients to support them, their families, and caregivers, and to ensure they have the skills and confidence to take control of their health as they transition to adult care.

The SYTP is committed to improving the transition process for youth and their families leaving pediatric health care settings and entering into and establishing themselves safely and securely into the care and services of Providence Health Care.

Work is currently underway to develop the program, including resources to support all clinical areas at PHC that have youth transitioning from pediatric to adult care.

Contact

Vanessa Lewis
Interim Leader, Program Development
Scotiabank Youth Transition Program
Email: VLewis@providencehealth.bc.ca

The Scotiabank Youth Transition Program (SYTP) has been made possible through a generous donation from Scotiabank to the St. Paul's Foundation. We are grateful for their continued partnership in creating an integrated, patient-centred model of care that will help young adults at a vulnerable and pivotal time in their lives.

Also on this page:

 

For Youth

Welcome to adult care at Providence Health Care!

For some young people, this period of transition and change can feel challenging, but we want to assure you that we are here to support you during this journey. Your health and wellness is our priority and we are looking forward to working with you to help you achieve your health goals. 

At Providence Health Care, you have the right to:

  • Be treated in a caring way
  • Have things explained in a way that you understand
  • Make your own health choices
  • Have access to your medical information
  • Attend your appointments alone or bring a support person with you, but for your first visit we recommend bringing someone with you so we can get to know you and the people who support you

In turn, make sure to:

  • Keep appointments or cancel them in advance
  • Tell us about your current symptoms and health history to help us treat you
  • Ask questions about your care
  • Follow treatment plans that you develop with your doctor/health care team

How your care might be different from pediatric to adult care

Pediatric health care setting

  • Appointments may be longer
  • Environment is colourful and inviting
  • 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 within the hospital
  • 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

Adult health care setting

  • Appointments may be shorter
  • Environment may lack colour and appear less inviting
  • Your testing and appointment may be on different days
  • You may need to access some support in the community and through your family doctor, but 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

Things you can do to support your transition to adult care

There are things you can do to feel more prepared for adult care and to be more independent in your care and decision-making. Before your first appointment, we recommend that you do the following:

  • Complete the Youth Quiz (bcchildrens.ca) and bring this with you to your first appointment to review with your team. This will help to identify what we should focus on during your appointment.
  • Review the Popular Topics. This will help to answer some questions you may have about adult care
  • Identify topics you wish to discuss during your appointment – see the Popular Topics for a list of example questions or topics
  • If you haven’t already done so, start to do some self-care tasks on your own, such as: getting medications from the pharmacy, getting bloodwork done, and booking appointments. It is also important to see your family doctor during this time so that they are aware of your transition to an adult team and can help support your health care needs during this time, if required

 

For Parents and Guardians

There are things parents/guardians can do to support your youth in adult care. You may do the following:

  • Talk to your youth about how you can support them to assume more responsibility for self-care (getting medications from the pharmacy, booking appointments, etc.)
  • Review the Popular Topics. This will help to answer some questions you may have about adult care.
  • Complete the Parent & Family Checklist. This will help you to identify what skills and information you and your young adult child will need as they transition to adult care.

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

Popular Topics

Below is a list of topics about transitioning to adult care at Providence Health Care.

For program or clinic-specific information (e.g. hours of operation, location, who to call), please contact your health care team directly:

Outpatient Programs + Clinics | Providence Health Care

Preparing for your move to adult care

Building Independence

Building independence to manage your health is important as you enter into adulthood. Although you may not be completely independent with your health care, you should start taking on more responsibility to better 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 in your phone or email.
  3. Add your adult specialist, other health care providers and pharmacy information in to your contacts.
  4. Check for directions online before you go to your appointment using Google Maps. Check TransLink for transit information.
  5. Attend at least part of your appointment on your own. It is up to you whether you 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.

Privacy and confidentiality

Your healthcare team will keep details of your care private and only discuss health information with others if you agree. However, there are some very limited situations when there is a requirement for healthcare providers to share your personal information.

Learn more about health information privacy at Providence Health Care.

Including parents or family in your 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.

Prescription refills

Depending on the medications you take 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 what you should go to your family doctor for before you run out.

Advance Care Planning

We encourage everyone to think about and talk about their future health. Start by having conversations with your close family, friends and health care provider(s) so that they know the health care treatment you would want in case you become incapable of expressing your own wishes.

By writing 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. A Representation agreement is where you write your instructions and name someone to make your health and personal care decisions for you if you become incapable.

For more information about Advance Care Planning:

Accessing Medical Records

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 may have.

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

In cases where 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.

For more information about accessing your health records.

 

What to expect from your clinic visit

Topics to discuss with your health care team

Here is a list of questions or topics that you might want to discuss with your health care team:

  • How to manage your health condition
  • How your condition impact 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
  • What are some potential issues related to your condition and what can you do to reduce the risk of developing them?

Bringing someone to your appointment

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.

What to know at the end of your appointment

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)
  • Confirm that the office has your current contact information

What to expect from your adult team

When to contact your family doctor

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

Your family doctor can care for many injuries and illnesses and can help to arrange specialized care when needed. They also 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
  • Youth health and lifestyle related health care (for example, 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)

Finding a family doctor

For information about finding a family doctor in BC.

Complaints about your care

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

If you feel like you have tried talking to multiple team members about your care and you still don’t feel like you are getting the answers you need you can consider talking to the Patient Care Quality Office.

Find more information about the PHC Patient Care Quality Office.

Resources to help with transition to adulthood

Additional resources to support your transition to adult care are available in the Useful Resources section.

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

 

Useful Resources

PHC Resources

Transition Planning

General

  • Pacific Community Resources Society (PCRS) - 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 (United Way BC)
  • 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 FASD
  • QMUNITY - BC'S Queer, Trans, and Two-Spirit Resource Centre
  • Disability Alliance of BC
  • Find a Family Doctor (BC College of Family Physicians)

Dental

Drugs, Smoking & Alcohol

Education

Employment and vocations

Equipment

Finances

Health Insurance & Benefits

Home & Community Care

Housing and Shelters

Indigenous Health

Recreation

Legal Resources

Mental Health & Wellness

Parents

Sexual Health

Travel & Transportation