Moving to adult healthcare
We care for kids and teens through age 17. Around age 16, we start helping your teen get ready to manage their own health - so the move to an adult doctor at 18 feels easy, not scary.
A simple plan, by age
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Ages 14–16: learn the ropes
Teens start answering the doctor's questions themselves, learn their medicines and allergies, and get a few private minutes with the provider at each visit.
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Age 17: pick the new doctor
Choose an adult (internal medicine or family) doctor before your teen's 18th birthday, and book their first visit while they are still with us. We transfer records free of charge.
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Age 18: the handoff
At 18, your child controls their own health information by law and moves to their adult doctor. If they want you to keep helping with their care, they sign a release form with the new office.
Helpful tools
- GotTransition.org
Free checklists and guides for teens and parents, built by health-transition experts.
- Release of Medical Information form
Its full name on the forms page is "Authorization for Release of Medical Information" - it lets us send records to the new doctor.
Common questions
When should my teen switch to an adult doctor?
We care for kids and teens through age 17 - patients move to an adult doctor when they turn 18. Starting the plan around 16 makes the change smooth instead of stressful.
How do we transfer records to the new doctor?
Fill out the "Authorization for Release of Medical Information" form on our Patient Forms page and tell us the new office. We fax records to physicians free of charge.
Questions about your teen's transition? Call us at (813) 948-8814.