Considerations for Hospitalized Adults with Chronic Childhood Conditions

Hospitalized adults with chronic childhood conditions face additional challenges in both pediatric and adult care environments. This chapter discusses previously unaddressed topics that providers may consider while caring for these patients. In particular, we address psychosocial and environmental considerations, assessment and management of pain and other symptoms, medication administration, venous thromboembolism prevention, and the role of inpatient transitions. These topics are most applicable to patients with intellectual disability or developmental delay, but also apply to other hospitalized young adults in both pediatric and adult settings.