Media contact: Anna Jones
Transitioning from pediatric to adult health care can be a difficult experience for individuals who have complex or chronic medical conditions. To help ease the transition, the University of Alabama at Birmingham and United Ability are hosting the Staging Transition for Every Patient program event on Saturday, May 7, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. at the United Ability’s LINCPoint Adult Program Building located at 101 Oslo Circle, Birmingham, AL 35211.
At this event, patients and their caregivers can learn more about UAB Medicine’s STEP program, which helps people with ongoing medical issues move from pediatric to adult health care. The STEP program provides primary care services, helps identify adult specialists, assists with care coordination and locates additional services in the community that fit each patient’s unique needs. The goal of this program is to prevent interruptions in medical care and provide support services — such as physical therapy, social workers, counseling and emergency planning — within a single primary care setting.
Patients and their caregivers will get the chance to connect with medical staff, social workers, vocational rehab, therapists and more. Opportunities to visit with many types of services will be offered at booths and breakout sessions. Lunch will be provided.
Some of the topics that will be addressed during the event include transitioning through the education system, attending college, working, housing, financial planning and attendant care, among others.
The event is free to everyone ages 14-30 who were born with a disability or developed a disability, and their caregivers. Health care providers can also attend the event for $100.
Register for the event by visiting go.uab.edu/STEP. For those who are unable to attend in person, Alabama Care will be live-streaming some of the event on their Facebook page.