IWK program helps youth with chronic illness navigate the system
Posted Dec 15, 2019 09:22:00 PM.
This article is more than 5 years old.
Nova Scotia's health care system isn't easy for young adults trying to advocate for themselves and navigate through for the first time.
There's prescriptions to be written, filled and re-filled, there's doctors appointments, waiting rooms and questions to be asked.
Enter the You're in Charge program.
The IWK Health Centre's workshop series is aimed at youth aged 13 to 15 who have a life-long illness.
“It's specific to chronic health conditions, so it would be things like arthritis or diabetes,” says Sarah Crutcher, who's been coordinator of the program with the IWK for the past five years.
Crutcher says many youth who “age out” of the pediatric care program are left with little guidance of how to navigate the adult health care system.
“Youth that are living with chronic health conditions will eventually need to transfer into adult health care and have the skills and the confidence to be able to manage their health care needs in a new system,” she tells NEWS 95.7's The Sheldon McLeod Show.
The IWK started the program in order to prepare youth early, while they're still being treated in a familiar system with familiar doctors and nurses.
“It's to build their confidence, it's to build their advocacy skills as well as to learn about what the transition process can look like for them,” Crutcher adds. “It's about knowing what their health care condition is, what their treatment plans are, what their medication is, and knowing their past health history.”
The workshop series will start up again in the New Year, with sessions on week nights or weekends so that parents can attend with their child.
“It's for youth and their parents, and it's really important that both parents and youth are on the same page so that they can be working together towards their goals of building skills and advocacy,” Crutcher says.
The program hasn't seen as much turnout as originally expected and Crutcher is working on social media campaigns and ads to increase engagement.
“I think potentially it's hard to reach this population for us. It's a well kept secret,” she says. “A lot of time it's parents that are connecting with us to talk about the program and connect their youth to the program.”
Crutcher also would love for more family doctors to refer their patients to the program, which potential participants can learn more about on the IWK website.
“What we want to do is start early, preparing youth and their parents to expect what the differences are and build those skills,” says Crutcher. “So when you need to talk to your health care team by yourself for those first few minutes of appointments, or being able to call in your prescriptions, or knowing who to reach out to when maybe your health is not going well.”
