October 6, 2020
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.