Dissertation
Healthcare transition planning for adolescents on the autism spectrum: a quality improvement project
Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.), Drexel University
03 Sep 2022
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/00001518
Abstract
Healthcare transitions among vulnerable populations, like adolescents with autism spectrum disorder, are complex and necessary for the launch into adulthood. Many patients are not receiving planned care. A policy, timeline, and resource guide did not exist in the clinical site. The lack of resources and policies available to this center and the complexity of medical visits in this population have led to inconsistent transition planning for adolescents with autism. The evidence reviewed supported an evidence-based transition program, such as a toolkit, to support and facilitate the process of healthcare transitions among adolescents with autism spectrum. A quality improvement project was designed to improve the transition process with this population and improve healthcare provider adherence to an adolescent transition plan. The intervention was a toolkit, which included a policy and resource guide. The intervention was then implemented into the clinical site. Post-intervention chart audits were used to examine the rate of transition documentation among healthcare providers after the toolkit is implemented. A total of 12 transition conversations occurred and were successfully documented by HCPs in the clinical site while a total of 13 were "missed" opportunities for transition planning. When variables were assessed by completion status, there was a statistically significant difference between transition plan documentation completion in the age 12-15 year old group (5/17, 29%) versus the age 16 years and older group (7/8, 88%). There was also a statistically significant difference by transition plan documentation completion by provider type with NPs completing 60% visits and MDs completing 25% of the time. Transition planning improvement for adolescents on the autism spectrum remains a national and local priority.
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Details
- Title
- Healthcare transition planning for adolescents on the autism spectrum
- Creators
- Emily K. Shaw
- Contributors
- Patti Rager Zuzelo (DNP Chair)
- Awarding Institution
- Drexel University
- Degree Awarded
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (D.N.P.)
- Publisher
- Drexel University; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
- Number of pages
- 57 pages
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Language
- English
- Academic Unit
- Doctoral Nursing; Nursing (Graduate); College of Nursing and Health Professions; Drexel University
- Other Identifier
- 991020220770204721