OSU program provides continuity of care from child to adult

COLUMBUS, Ohio (WCMH) -- For young adults living with lifelong medical conditions, leaving the care of pediatric specialists can be both emotional and overwhelming. A new program at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center is helping to make that transition easier.

The Complex Care Clinic is designed to help patients with chronic childhood-onset conditions -- such as spina bifida, cerebral palsy, and congenital heart disease -- move from pediatric to adult medical care while maintaining the coordinated, specialized support they’ve grown up with.

David Phillips, who was born with spina bifida, said the transition from pediatric to adult care was a challenge.

“Up until middle school, I had 15 surgeries and then more past that,” Phillips said. “Now that I’m becoming an adult, you want to be heard and say, ‘I know my body - let’s work as a team to fix what’s wrong.’”

Dr. Katrina Johnson, an assistant professor at Ohio State and one of the clinic’s founders, said that many young adults lose access to cohesive care once they age out of children’s hospitals.

“Right now, it’s fragmented,” Johnson said. “Around age 18 to 26, they’re told they need to find an adult doctor. It can be scary, you don’t know where to go.”

Johnson’s inspiration for the clinic dates back to her teenage years, when she was an intern at a pediatric office and noticed the gap in care between pediatric and adult medicine.

“We’ve made it really simple,” Johnson said. “At Nationwide Children’s, we have one referral that’s placed directly to Ohio State. When their doctor decides it’s time to transfer, the referral goes to us automatically.”

Each patient is paired with a case worker to help manage appointments, transportation, and communication needs before the first visit. The goal is to eliminate barriers and create a seamless transition for patients and families.

Phillips now serves as an ambassador for the clinic and encourages others not to lose hope.

“For people making the transition, I say don’t give up,” he said. “There’s always a solution, especially with help from people like Dr. Johnson.”

Johnson said that seeing patients gain independence while staying connected to the care they need has been deeply rewarding.

“It’s not perfect yet,” she said. “But being able to sit down with someone who has struggled or felt unheard and help them bridge that care, I often have to keep myself from tears of joy.”

For more information about the Complex Care Clinic, visit the Wexner Medical Center website.