How long is the transition process?

The transition program lasts about a year.

How often do I have appointments?

You will begin by visiting once a month for the first year, and depending on how well you are doing, you may change to every other month.

Where is the E.A.S.E. Program held?

The E.A.S.E. Program is held on the 1st floor of Froedtert Hospital in Conference Room H. Location can change and patients will be notified in advance if this should occur.

How do I make an appointment?

To RSVP, contact a social worker by calling 414-805-3055. Flyers for the program will be mailed to patients, displayed in the adult Sickle Cell Clinic and also in the pediatric Sickle Cell Clinic at Children's Wisconsin.

Yes, parents are welcome at the meet and greet. The education day is just for patients.

Who will I see in the E.A.S.E. Program?

You will be greeted by the nurse coordinator and a social worker at the meet and greet. During the meet and greet, you will meet the entire sickle cell team. On education day you will only see the nurse coordinator and a social worker.

What is the purpose of the meet and greet?

The meet and greet is where you get a chance to meet the sickle cell team, tour the facility, ask questions and receive a book bag full of goodies. The meet and greet will last approximately an hour and a half.

What is the purpose of the education day?

The purpose of the education day is to provide information, ideas, tools and resources to help you develop skill sets required to navigate the adult health care setting.

Sickle Cell Care Transition from Child to Adult Program

When young adults with sickle cell disease transfer their medical care to the adult service, they may find it hard to understand all that is expected of them. Our program empowers adolescents with sickle cell disease to effectively transition to adult care. Our transition program is a collaboration between the Adult Sickle Cell Clinic at Froedtert Hospital campus and Children's Wisconsin and helps prepare patients for their new role as independent adults.

Areas of Transition to Adult Care

The program educates patients on the five areas of transition:

Medical
- General knowledge of SCD
- Self-management
- Pain management
- Adherence
Emotional/Psychological
- Decision making (Can I do this?)
- Coping
- Self-advocacy
Social/Recreation
- Support system
- Health/wellness
Health Benefits
- Insurance
- SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
- Medical consent
Education/Occupation
- Work plans
- School plans

What to Expect from the Transition Program

Patients generally transition at 19. Discussions of transition should begin at age 16 with your pediatric doctor.

The goal of transition is to provide health care that is:

Uninterrupted
Coordinated
Comprehensive
Developmentally appropriate

How Does Adult Care Differ From Pediatric Care?

Transitioning from pediatric to adult sickle cell health care is a big step, because it means learning to take care of your own health.

Pediatric	Adult
Parents in charge	You are now in charge
Parents do the talking	You talk to the doctor
Care monitored by parents and health care providers	You are responsible for monitoring and reporting concerns
Appointments are scheduled by your parents	You schedule your appointments
Support services are offered for financial and emotional issues	You must seek out support based on your needs
Your parents are responsible for finances and payment	You are responsible for finances and payment
Your parents have insurance or health benefits	You must have your own insurance or health benefits
Transportation to your appointments is provided or arranged by an adult	You must provide or arrange your own transportation
Your parents call for refills	You must call for your medication refills