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Voice

Getting older means having a voice in your health care, knowing your rights, providing consent, asking questions, and being informed about your health.

Asking questions

 

Tips and Links

Activities

ON TRAC Transition TimelineGoal Setting 101Easy for You to SayGo Ahead and AskTaking Responsibility for Your CareNote to My Family PhysicianQuestions to Ask Your Doctor 


 

 

Tips and Links

  • Practice the 3-Sentence Summary with your parents and family (from the Sick Kids website):
    • Sentence 1: My age, diagnosis and brief medical history
    • Sentence 2: My treatment plan
    • Sentence 3: My question/concern to talk about during this visit
  • Allie talks about her journey and finding her voice.
  • Matt gives tips on how to talk to health care providers and how to get them to talk to you.
  • Jenna shares her experiences being her own best advocate.

Activities

Getting Ready for a Health Care AppointmentBeing A Team Player



 

 

Tips and Links

Activities

What I Need To Know About My Health ConditionWhat Would You Tell A Friend?



 

 

Tips and Links

Activities

An Emergency PlanA Health Care AdvocateChoosing a Health Care Advocate



 

 

Tips and Links

  • Ask your clinic nurse and family for suggestions for a Family Practitioner.
  • See a list of Family Practitioners in BC at bc211.ca. 
  • Search online for the type of doctor you would like (eg. gender, youth-friendly, clinic location, office hours).
  • Search online for a nurse practitioner through the College of Registered Nurses of BC.
  • Make an appointment as a new patient, and see if they will be a good fit for you.
  • Tips for helping your Family Practitioner help you!
  • Check out how youth rate youth-friendly care providers in this video!

Activities

Choosing a Family PhysicianNote To My Family PhysicianIf you are Going to Help Me



 

 

Tips and Links

  • Ask your health care providers about future health concerns.
  • Find a mentor or a buddy who lives with the same condition(s) as you do!
  • Journal or make art about your feelings about future health concerns or conditions.
  • iheartchange.org is a transition site for youth with a heart condition – learn all about making the move to adult care.

  • Learn about a Representation Agreement to authorize assistance for health and personal care.


Activities

Getting Information to Make Informed Decisions 



 

 

Tips and Links

Activities

If you are going to help me 



 

 

Tips and Links

  • Did you know that you have to give informed consent before any medical procedures, not your parents?

  • Learn about a Representation Agreement so that someone else can give consent on your behalf. You can set up a Representation Agreement when you are 19 or older.

  • Practice shared decision-making with your parents so you can start making decisions independently. 
  • Practice giving your consent in person and in writing before leaving your pediatric clinic.
  • Watch this video on a youth's perspective on privacy, confidentiality, and accessing personal information.
  • Check out the laws in BC around confidentiality and consent.
  • Learn about 'Social Smarts: Privacy, the Internet, and You' - a free graphic novel available online.
  • Work through the My 5 Wishes tool - a living will that encourages discussions about consent to treatment and end of life decisions.

  • Download the “My Voice: Planning Guide” developed by the BC Ministry of Health to help with discussions, planning and legal documentation.


Activities

Consent in Health Care: A Guide for YouthRights and Safeguards: A Guide for Self-AdvocatesGetting Information to Make Informed Decisions



 

 

Tips and Links

  • Watch this video where Mike shares his story transitioning from BCCH to adult health care.
  • Help to decrease your anxiety about changing clinics — watch this video where Ashlie shares her advice. 
  • Watch Shane's artistic example of the "Doctor Switch" then talk about it with your family.
  • Just TRAC it! 
    • Contacts app: add your team of Adult Specialist(s) and health care providers.
    • Calendar app: set reminders or alarms for your appointments — it's very important that you don't miss an appointment.
    • Ask your current health care providers for referrals to find the best adult team possible. 
  • Check directions to your new clinic(s) online — you can call for directions, or use GoogleMaps or TransLink!
  • Find a Specialist by gender, location, specialty, and language through the College of Physicians and Surgeons of BC.
  • Find a physiotherapist through the Physiotherapy Association of BC.
  • Try the BC Health Services Locator app to locate services throughout the province.
  • Learn about Medical Specialists in BC — who does what?
  • Find out tips on how to change from a pediatrician to a family practitioner. 

Activities

Graduation Checklist
Getting Ready for Adult CareWho Will I Need On My Adult TeamWays To Find An Adult SpecialistQuestions for the Adult SpecialistSeek and FindChecking It Out
 

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