Navigating the transition of care from pediatric to adulthood
The prospect of shifting from paediatric care to adult care for a young person can be daunting. For many children, they have likely been followed by the same paediatrician their whole life and the change can be nerve-wracking.
When preparing for a shift in your care team, ESC asked Toronto-based paediatric dermatologist Dr. Marissa Joseph, MD, FRCPC for guidance: “You may ask your paediatric dermatologist about putting together a summary document of everything that’s happened with your child’s skin since they started having eczema. This can consist of a list of treatments that have or haven’t worked, images, and other important considerations regarding the patient’s history. Parents can then share this and their own notes with the new doctor to minimize disruption to the patient’s care. You’ll likely need to provide written consent to share this information, but it can help support your child as they transition care into new hands.”
Dr. Joseph also pointed out: “Every dermatologist I know sees children, and it’s actually a significant portion of their practice. What’s most important for the patient, no matter their age, is that they feel comfortable with their doctor, so be sure to have this conversation with your physician.”
To discover ESC’s resources for children, youths, and adolescents living with eczema, visit our Eczema Resources for Children and Youth section on eczemahelp.ca.
Eczema Society of Canada (ESC) thanks Dr. Marissa Joseph, MD, FRCPC, for sharing her expertise during ESC’s March 2022 Life with Eczema virtual event series and on this content. Funding for the Life with Eczema Winter 2022 event series was generously provided by Pfizer Canada and Sanofi Genzyme, a division of sanofi-aventis Canada Inc.
Disclaimer: Information provided in this resource does not constitute medical advice and is not intended to be used as a diagnostic tool. The information is up-to-date at time of publication. All medications, interventions, and treatment plans have risks and benefits, and it is important that individuals discuss their or their child’s specific health care needs with a qualified health care professional.
March 2022
