Well Care of the Emerging and Young Adult

Emerging adulthood is a time of personal transition that can result in challenges to the management of general health and medical conditions. Young adults unfortunately have low rates of utilization of primary care services compared to other adults. There are a variety of skills and strategies for primary care physicians to help young adults navigate the healthcare system, increase patient engagement, and strengthen the patient–physician relationship. Transition of care models from pediatrics to adulthood should be applied not only to patients with special healthcare needs but also to those without chronic illness. The United States Preventive Services Task Force guidelines for young adults include age-appropriate cancer screening, sexually transmitted infection screening as well as screening for hypertension, depression, and unhealthy substance use, much of which is addressed in the HEADDSS (home, education, employment, activities, drugs, diet, sexual health, suicide) assessment. Immunizations are a critical part of health maintenance in this age, and assuming completion of basic childhood vaccinations, discussion may include a special focus on the Human Papilloma Vaccine as well as the novel COVID-19 vaccine. Telehealth access widely expanded due to the COVID-19 pandemic and may be an effective means to provide preventive care, urgent sick visits, mental health care, and discussion of other chronic conditions, especially for our most vulnerable patients. There are clear advantages to telemedicine but there is also the potential for inequity for those with limited or no access, so primary care physicians should be mindful of any potential barriers to telemedicine and patient care.