A Guide For Families and Providers

Put it into practice

Create a health binder with your family member to track:

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• Major illnesses • Past medications you have taken • Current medications you are taking • Immunizations and family medical history • Past and current healthcare provider(s) • Contact information for healthcare provider and pharmacy (name and addresses) • Insurance information (insurance plan and plan ID number, etc.)

A GUIDE FOR FAMILIES AND PROVIDERS

Health needs to consider as part of transition planning: • Good nutrition practices • Proper hygiene practices

Helping young adults manage healthcare transition

• Effects of drugs and alcohol • Importance of exercise • Reproductive education This brochure was created with support from Hope Mellinger and Lisa Ibekwe, trainees in the Leadership in Neurodevelopmental Disabilities (LEND) at the LEND Center of Pittsburgh (funded by the Health Resources and Services Administration).

ACHIEVA © 2015

PURPOSE OF THIS GUIDE

MANAGE YOUR MEDICATIONS

KNOWLEDGE IS POWER

This guide is designed to empower young adults to take an active role in the management of their healthcare. It will assist adolescents as they transition through the healthcare system by providing suggestions on where and how to begin the process of moving to adult care providers.

• Use a medication chart to sort pills by day, time and dosage

• Learn about your health and diagnosis

Start the conversation with your doctor today.

Day Sunday a.m.

Sunday p.m.

Monday a.m.

Monday p.m.

Medicine Medicine Name Medicine Name

Dosage 1 pill in a.m. & p.m.

1 pill in a.m. & p.m.

TRACK YOUR HEALTH

• Use your phone or tablet to set reminder alarms

Buy a three-ring binder and calendar to begin tracking your health:

• Mark your calendar each time you take your medicine

• Keep a current list of your doctors and their contact information (phone numbers)

• If your medicine is running low, call the pharmacy for a refill

• Write down your office visit dates

• Call your doctor if no refill is permitted

• The reason for your visit (illness, follow-up, annual exam, etc.)

• Practice managing your medicines with adult supervision

• The results from the visit (concerns, prescribed medications or follow-up appointment)

SCHEDULING YOUR MEDICAL APPOINTMENTS

• Copy of your receipts from the office visit and prescriptions

Regular Visits

• List your medications, the dosage and the frequency in which you take them • List your medical insurance information (plan, pharmacy name and number) • List any additional healthcare concerns • Keep your health binder somewhere accessible

• Attend scheduled appointments • Schedule your next visit at the end of each appointment • Update your health binder if anything changes Sick or Need to Reschedule Visit • Contact your doctor immediately • Give them your name and the reason you are calling • Write a note in your health binder and the new date for your appointment

• Use the internet to learn about your health and diagnosis at http://www.nih.gov • Look up medications, allergies and the side effects to those medications • Discuss what you have learned with your doctor or other health professional • Create an Individual Health Plan • Learn more about transition to adulthood at http://www.secondarytransition.org • Additional resources are available from ACHIEVA’s Person First Health website at http://www.personfirsthealth.org/resources/

BUILDING SELF ADVOCACY • Promote opportunities for youth to be active in their own healthcare decision making by gradually decreasing control and increasing youth responsibilities

• Allow your adolescent to practice making their own appointments and begin managing their medications • Include healthcare providers in transition planning to keep effective communication open