Just because a patient reaches the age of 21 doesn’t necessarily mean they should be transferred to the care of an adult practitioner, according to a recent policy revision published by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). Details on the update include the following:

• AAP discourages setting arbitrary age limits on pediatric care.
• An upper limit at which patients should be transferred to adult care will vary from individual to individual.
• Recent research indicates that children’s mental and emotional development continues to progress into young adulthood, making a 21-year-old cut off all the more arbitrary.
• Choosing an appropriate transfer date to adult care should take into account the patient’s and family’s needs and the existence of a patient’s special health needs.