Implementation of a Pediatric to Adult Epilepsy Transition Clinic

Purpose: This evidence-based quality improvement project aimed to implement an epilepsy healthcare transition (HCT) clinic to improve the patient experience by providing comprehensive care as the adolescent transitions from pediatric to adult care. Methods: A pediatric-to-adult epilepsy HCT clinic utilizing the Six Core Elements of Healthcare TransitionTM framework was developed and piloted in the ambulatory neurology clinic of an academic institution. The primary outcome of patient experience was measured using the Press Ganey Patient Experience Survey, surveying patients in the pediatric and adult setting with epilepsy, specifically looking at the empiric metric "Likelihood to Recommend Practice to Others". The secondary outcomes, specific to the clinic, were collected through the electronic medical record. Results: The empirical metric data for patient experience for fiscal year (FY) 2023 had a raw mean score of 95.3; in FY2024, it was 91.75. In FY2023 Quarter 2, the raw mean score was 95.45; in FY2024 Quarter 2, the score was 97. Secondary outcomes revealed that out of 12 patients scheduled, attendance was 58%, access to providers improved by 71%, seizure action plans were offered to all participants, with 42% completed, as well as there, were no admissions or emergency department visits for ICD G.40 (Epilepsy & Recurrent Seizures). Conclusions: The structured healthcare transition framework provides a comprehensive approach for adolescents with epilepsy. Alternative surveys are needed to elicit patient experience feedback from adolescents with epilepsy. Further quality improvement cycles will be used to evaluate psychosocial concerns and improve the healthcare transition process.