Primary Care Program at Hasbro Children’s Adolescent Health Center

Abigail A. Donaldson, MD, Medical Director, Eating Disorder Program, and Adolescent Medicine Division Director, Hasbro Children's Hospital

How Is Primary Care Different in an Adolescent-Specialized Setting?

In the second decade of life, children transition to adulthood fueled by a complex constellation of factors, including hormonal adjustment; social-emotional change; rapid, asynchronous physical and cognitive development; and separation from primary adult caregivers. For most adolescents in the United States, primary care takes place in the general pediatric or family medicine setting, often with the same provider who delivered care through childhood. For some adolescents, this continuity of care provides a nurturing environment where they are well-supported. In these cases, there is no reason to consider a different approach to adolescent primary care. However, for some adolescents, the changes they experience as they emerge from childhood can cause the patient, their family, and/or the provider to feel uncomfortable with the status quo. For these teens and their families, the primary care program at Hasbro Children’s Adolescent Health Center can provide an alternative to the general pediatric setting.

What Is Adolescent Medicine?

Adolescent medicine is a subspecialty of pediatrics, family practice, or internal medicine. Just like other sub-specialists, board certified adolescent medicine providers are required to complete a three-year fellowship following completion of general residency training. We receive special training in adolescent-focused healthcare, including primary care, non-surgical gynecology, eating disorders, gender affirming care, acne management, and substance use (among other things).

What Is Different in an Adolescent Medicine Primary Care Clinic?

Primary care in adolescent medicine is focused on the specific physical and emotional needs of the developing adolescent—not the younger child, nor the older adult. Adolescent medicine-trained providers revel in the complexity of adolescence. The changing parent-child dynamics, onset of risk-taking behaviors, and the emotional dynamism inherent to adolescence are all things that attract us to the field. Unlike most places, our office environment is teen-centered, with physical spaces, resources, psycho-education materials, and staff all oriented towards empowering and supporting adolescent wellness.

As specialty-trained primary care providers, we deliver a wider spectrum of adolescent-specific services than most general pediatric practices can. This helps to streamline and reduce barriers to care for patients with common adolescent medical concerns. For example, if a patient is interested in starting contraception at her annual well visit, we can offer all contraceptive options—from birth control pills to an intrauterine device—right there in the primary care setting (and often the same day).

How Are Parents/Guardians Involved in the Adolescent Medicine Primary Care Setting?

Adult support-people are key to adolescent wellness and are included in medical discussions and decision-making in our clinic. However, teens are always provided time alone with the medical provider, allowing an opportunity for confidential discussion. Considerations regarding adolescent confidentiality are complex and sometimes time-consuming. Adolescent medicine providers are expert at managing communication between patients and caregivers in order to facilitate appropriate treatment.

What Services Are Available through the Primary Care Program at Hasbro Children’s Adolescent Health Center?

We have a strong interdisciplinary primary care team, including medical, nutrition, and behavioral health providers. We are open five days a week from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Depending on the reason for the visit, telemedicine is available as an alternative to in-person visits.

We accept new patients ages 10 through 17 years and transition patients to adult care by age 21.