Resident Files: Improving Care for Medically Complex Young Adults

Complex patients are increasingly common in primary care, and such patients often have poor clinical outcomes. Barriers within our healthcare system challenge effective care for complex patients within our hospital systems. But less is known about the care of complex patients by primary care providers.

In our series, the Resident Files, we explore efforts of Children's Hospital Colorado and CU School of Medicine pediatric residents to examine the social determinants of health that impact the patients they see in primary care clinic and how all pediatric providers can make considerations for these impacts in their own practice.

Listen to pediatric experts discuss the care of medically complex young adult patients

On today’s Resident Files episode, we discuss improving care for medically complex young adults, including their experiences of health system barriers and facilitators, and strategies to enhance the provision of effective care.

Joining us are Michelle Brajcich, MD, PGY-3, Samantha Robin, MD, PGY-2, and Hannah Friedman, MD, PGY-2, all residents at Children's Hospital Colorado and the University of Colorado School of Medicine.

In this episode, our experts discuss:

• Findings from a needs assessment that surveyed internal medicine and pediatric residents about their confidence in performing care tasks for medically complex patients
• Challenges for medically complex young adult patients when transitioning from pediatric to adult care
• Development of a case-based curriculum to improve residents’ ability to care for complex patients
• Findings from an assessment of adults with disabilities or special healthcare needs
• When to start conversations with patients about transitioning from pediatric to adult care
• How to improve handoff of complex patients from pediatric to adult providers