Discussing the Transition from Pediatric to Adult Epilepsy Care: Josiane Lajoie, MD

WATCH TIME: 3 minutes

"Transition should never be done in 1 visit. This is something that should occur over several visits, and probably over a span of at least a year, if not longer."

The transition from pediatric to adult neurological care can be precarious. As adolescents assume greater responsibility for their health, clinicians must be there to ensure continuity, foster independence, and prepare patients and families for the upcoming changes in their support system. Without a structured transition, young adults may face gaps in care, such as decreased treatment adherence, increased risk of complications, and added strain on patients, caregivers, and health care providers. Developing effective transition models has become an important focus in pediatric neurology, particularly for chronic conditions like epilepsy that require consistent, long-term management.

In this interview, Josiane Lajoie, MD, director of pediatric epilepsy at NYU Langone Medical Center, tells NeurologyLive® her perspective on how clinicians can improve this transition and better support pediatric patients with epilepsy as they move into adult care. With transitions often happening around major life milestones like college, she explains the importance of preparing patients and families well in advance. She shares what she believes are best practices for ensuring continuity, encouraging independence, and setting realistic expectations, steps that she believes are necessary to make the handoff between pediatric and adult neurologists more seamless.

Lajoie shares her expert opinion on practical ways clinicians can help adolescents gradually build health literacy. Adolescents will need to manage their care independently, from knowing their medications to navigating challenges like sleep disruption and stress in college. Resources from organizations like the International League Against Epilepsy and the American Epilepsy Society offer models that support clinicians and patients in building structured transition plans.