Article, originally published on UofMHealth
As children with epilepsy get older, managing their own care is critical to their independence, ability to drive, go to college, seek employment and eventually start a family if they choose to do so.
And as more children with the neurological disorder survive into adulthood, ensuring a smooth transition in care is even more important.
Now, clinicians at Michigan Medicine have developed a tool to help them better prepare adolescents and young adults to take ownership of their disease well before the time comes.
Through a customized screening tool for 16 to 26 year-olds, doctors are effectively able to monitor their patients’ development of knowledge and self-management skills regarding their condition, according to a report in Epilepsia Open. This structure allows providers to proactively address gaps in readiness that may impact long term health outcomes.