Why is transition an emerging issue in health care?
Because of continuing improvements in medical technology, the life expectancy of individuals with childhood onset chronic health conditions has improved significantly. For example, while most children born with Cystic Fibrosis in the 1950’s died in their infancy, children born today with CF can expect to reach their 40th birthday. Today, more that one-half of all the individuals in the U.S.A. with CF are over the age of 21. Likewise, the life expectancy for individuals with Sickle Cell Disease has improved dramatically. In the 1970’s, Sickle Cell Disease was considered a disease of children and adolescents. Today, about 85% of children born with this condition are expected to reach age 21. At least 80% of children born with Spina Bifida are expected to celebrate their 21st birthday. In recent years, many leading medical organizations on the federal, state, and local level, have begun to address the issue of health care transition directly. In 2001, three leading medical societies – the
