Patient and Family Support
Kenneth Remy, MD, MSc, MSCI, FCCM
Associate Professor
Case Western Reserve University/University Hospitals Cleveland Medical Center
Avon Lake, Ohio
This session will address key issues around transition from the pediatric ICU to the adult ICU and challenges faced by adults with congenital illnesses and important long-term outcomes after critical illness, especially for patients with chronic illnesses. The bulk of research in the care of adults with childhood illnesses has stemmed from pediatrics. Most of these patients are cared for by clinicians affiliated with adult hospitals. The subtle changes in hospital cultures likely contribute psychologically to the way patients and their families handle the transition. Practical approaches for facilitating humanization of the ICU will be described, including development of patient advisory councils comprising patients with chronic pediatric illnesses and their family members. Attendees will be provided with tools to implement interventions in their ICUs. Speakers will discuss the complex interplay between the cultures of adult and pediatric critical care medicine prioritization in caring for patients with pediatric illnesses that persist into adulthood. Ideally, the transition of care of young adult patients should occur with their primary care physicians, but often hospital admissions trigger the the care transition. Speakers will explore these barriers to successful transition.