Peter Newman, Chair | Binghamton General Hospital
Peter Newman, Chair | Binghamton General Hospital
As teenagers transition into adulthood, an important step is transferring their healthcare from a pediatrician to an adult primary care provider. Once a child turns 18, parents can no longer act as intermediaries for medical care due to the Health Information Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), making it essential for young adults to take on this responsibility.
Mary DeGuardi, MD, director of UHS Pediatrics in Binghamton, notes that many patients experience a smooth transition thanks to the comprehensive services offered by UHS. “Because we are part of a large multispecialty group that provides pediatric care, adult medicine care, gynecologic and obstetric care, we have an opportunity to help our patients navigate this transition,” she explains.
To facilitate this changeover, families should encourage teens to manage their own doctor appointments and understand privacy rights once they turn 18. Creating a medical summary with the help of their pediatrician can also be beneficial. Dr. DeGuardi emphasizes the importance of planning: “For patients who have special needs...we want to make sure that these patients don’t fall through the cracks.”
UHS has increased efforts in recent years to improve communication between pediatric and adult medicine providers within their network. This effort aims to ensure a smoother transition for all patients, especially those with special needs or chronic conditions who may require ongoing specialist care.
Dr. DeGuardi advises staggering transitions for young patients with multiple specialists rather than changing all at once. For healthy teens approaching milestones like high school graduation, it remains crucial not to overlook formalizing their medical care arrangements.
She mentions that some pediatricians allow patients to stay until age 21 but recommends discussing plans early since policies may vary. Dr. DeGuardi reassures her young adult patients about finding suitable primary care providers while highlighting the support available from UHS care coordinators.
“In the end, it’s really going to be the patient’s choice,” she states. “We just want to make sure they don’t have years without seeing a provider for a routine well check because medical issues can go undetected.”
Further information about selecting a UHS primary care provider is available at nyuhs.org/care-treatment.
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