6 days ago
UP-PGH to fully implement Lipat Kalinga to benefit young patients in 2025
The University of the Philippines and Philippine General Hospital (PGH) announced Monday that its adolescent-to-adult healthcare transition program is set to be fully implemented this year.
Launched in 2008, the Lipat Kalinga (LK) transition program aims to provide an organized system to help adolescents shift from pediatric to adult healthcare, ensuring continuity and improvement in their healthcare.
During its Phase 1, Lipat Kalinga (LK1) enrolled 51 patients aged 10 to 18 years old with chronic kidney disease in a three-step Transition Map.
'The patients were under the care of a multidisciplinary team composed of pediatric and adult nephrologists, adolescent medicine specialists, nurses, social workers, dietitians, and school teachers,' PGH said in a statement.
During Phase 2 (LK2), an Adolescent Renal Transition Clinic (ARTC) served as a central hub for transition activities involving patients, their families, and a multidisciplinary healthcare team.
Patients undergo a transition readiness assessment where their ability to understand and apply information from health education modules are tested.
A transition checklist is used to track attendance and participation in clinic activities to ensure consistent engagement in the program.
Patients graduate upon assessment of their scores and will be endorsed and transferred to the adult nephrology team.
The age of the patients was adjusted to 15 years, and additional eligible chronic illnesses were included.
A memorandum of understanding was also signed between the Departments of Pediatrics and Medicine on Sept. 7, 2015, urging other chronic illness sub-specialties to join the program.
The age of entry to ARTC was then raised to 17 years, and the transition period was set between six and 24 months.
LK2 was renamed LK3 as the following sub-specialties were added: Endocrinology, Rheumatology, and Neurology.
The LK also has a one-on-one education system with the Silahis ng Kalusugan school for chronically ill children under PGH's Pediatrics section.
Under the education system, students were able to continue their studies even while undergoing treatment for their illnesses under the LK program.
'When they finish their stay here, they can join mainstream [level]. Walang nasisirang panahon (No time is wasted),' said Dr. Carmelo Alfiler, former PGH Director and pediatric nephrology expert.
'Some of our patients finished high school, pursued college degrees, and engaged in blue-collar jobs. Some came back to give positive testimonies of how the PGH LK program gave them sufficient self-management/adult skills, better control of their disease, and improvement of their quality of life,' he added.
PGH physicians have proposed creating a shared transition facility for all LK3 subspecialties, as it is currently operating at the outpatient department of the hospital.
'Having our own facility is expected to significantly enhance the delivery of seamless, integrated care, improve the overall patient experience, and strengthen the program's contributions to tertiary-level preventive and promotive health care in alignment with the Universal Health Care Law,' Alfiler said.
On July 25, PGH's Department of Pediatrics, Neurosciences, Dermatology, Obstetrics and Gynecology, and Psychiatry met to address health issues affecting adolescents and young adults, such as mental health concerns, teenage pregnancies, sexually transmitted infections, and body image and care issues.
Hospitals with Philippine Society of Nephrology-accredited training programs for pediatric and adult nephrology include dedicated transition sessions in their two-year curriculum.
Meanwhile, Singapore's National University Hospital - Pediatric Nephrology Department has started a similar program in coordination with PGH. — Mariel Celine Serquiña/RF, GMA Integrated News
