CAMBRIDGE, Mass. — Ipsen, a global biopharmaceutical company, has launched a new educational initiative to help teens, young adults, and their families navigate the transition from pediatric to adult healthcare — a process that typically occurs between ages 18 and 21 and often leaves families unprepared.
The initiative, available through Healthcare-Shift.com, offers a comprehensive set of tools and resources designed to increase awareness and provide practical guidance during this critical period. The website features a healthcare checklist, conversation and appointment guides, and expert-led videos that parents and teens can watch together to prepare for the shift to adult care.
In the United States, when individuals turn 18, they are considered legal adults — a milestone that brings major changes in how healthcare is accessed and managed. “In the U.S., when a person turns 18, they’re considered a legal adult, and there are many changes that happen in the healthcare system related to that. The trouble is, we don’t prepare parents and kids for that transition in the way that we anticipate the shift from high school to college or work,” said Susan Shanske, Clinical Social Worker and Director of Transitional Care Support, BRIDGES Adult Transition Program at Boston Children’s Hospital. “Yet that shift from pediatric to adult care can be just as disruptive and can result in young adults not getting the healthcare they need.”
The challenges are compounded by the complexity of the U.S. healthcare system and the added burden of chronic conditions. A 2018 national poll found that 45 percent of 18- to 29-year-olds do not have a primary care physician — a critical factor for accessing most types of healthcare in the U.S. For those with chronic conditions, the consequences can be significant.
“Through our work in rare pediatric conditions, we’ve seen how critical it is for teens and young adults to feel supported in moving from pediatric to adult care,” said Keira Driansky, EVP and President of North America at Ipsen. “By offering families and providers tools to start these conversations earlier, kids develop the lifelong skills needed to manage their own health with confidence.”
Healthcare-Shift.com is designed to promote age-appropriate discussions between parents, teens, and caregivers to help young people take greater ownership of their healthcare before reaching adulthood. The site includes educational content tailored for different stages of development, beginning in elementary school when parents can introduce children to basic health awareness and encourage them to speak up at doctor visits. As the transition to adult care approaches, teens and young adults can access “watch together” videos, appointment guides, and a healthcare checklist to help them build independence and confidence in managing their care.
For parents and caregivers, videos, information, and conversation guides provide straightforward ways to teach children how to advocate for their own health — a skill as vital as learning to drive or manage a bank account.
