Transitioning youth with autism spectrum disorders and other special health care needs into adult primary care: A provider survey.

Hamama et al. (2021) asked 200 doctors and nurses who treat teens with autism or other special needs. They wanted to know if these providers follow the six basic steps experts say make a good hand-off from kid doctors to grown-up doctors.

The survey covered things like starting talks at age 14, giving families a written plan, and making sure the teen meets the new doctor before turning 18.

Only one in four providers said they do all six steps. Most skip the written plan and rarely invite the adult doctor to meet the teen early.

Pediatric teams blame adult clinics for not answering calls. Adult teams say they never get the teen's full medical history. The teen is left in the middle with no clear next step.

Vassos et al. (2023) looked at 31 studies and found the same holes Hamama et al. (2021) saw. Their big review shows we keep describing the problem but still lack fixes that put autistic voices and fairness first.

Delgado-Lobete et al. (2019) found a brighter spot in Canada. Early-intervention teams there already give strong hand-offs to elementary schools. The gap is not know-how; it is that adult-health systems have not copied what school teams already do.

Lineberry et al. (2023) followed teens after they aged out. Less than 40 % got any support in the first year. This extends Hamama et al. (2021) by showing the cracks widen once the teen leaves pediatric care.

Your client turns 18 soon. Ask the pediatrician for a written transition plan today. Offer to role-play the first adult visit with the teen. One dry run now can stop a crisis later.