young Adults increasingly Opt for Adult Primary Care Doctors Before Age 21
SAVANNAH, GA – As young people transition into new phases of life, like heading off โto college, many are also choosing to switch from pediatricians to adultโ primary care physicians before reaching the traditional age of 21. While pediatricians can continue care until a patient turns โ21, a growing number are seeking medical care in a moreโข mature habitat, according to โlocal doctors.
“Maybe adulthood startsโฃ there for some people,” observed Savannah‘s Mason Riegner, reflectingโฃ on the experience of entering a new, independent stageโค ofโฃ life.
SouthCoastโ Health pediatrician Dr. Micah Riegner notes that some patients begin considering the switch around ages 17 or 18. “Some โฃpatients around the โฃage โคof 17 or โข18 are tired of coming to theโ kid-friendly โoffice and hearing babies in the โbackground,” she said. “And they choose to transition earlier.”
The desire for a more adult setting andโค a greaterโ sense of privacy are key factors driving this trend. Dr. โDanielle Mankin,a Southcoast primary care physician,explained,”Usually,the child,the adolescent,feels โmore grown โคup. They โjust want to be inโ aโ more adult environment. Or โฃthey feel that they have more grown-upโ things they want to discuss โฃwith a doctor that they don’t โfeel โpleasant talking about with their pediatrician. So, some people prefer to have a new โคperson involved to discuss things like that.”
Despite the increasing preference for adult doctors, Dr.Micah Riegner recommends patients remain with their pediatrician until age 21.โค “I doโ recommend that they stay โuntil 21,” she stated. “I think there are a lot of thingsโค we can offer. Typically when you’re in โฃthat age, yes you’re an adult, but you’re not an adulty adult. โAnd so you still need a little bit of โขhand holding andโ guidance about things like nutrition or navigating college orโ navigating vaccinations like the annualโ flu shot. And โtypically, we certainly know them. If you’re a patient with chronic conditions, who knows you better than the doctor that’s seen you since birth?”
Cost and convenience also play a role, with some studentsโ utilizing campusโค clinicsโฃ as an affordable alternative.โ Mason Riegner, 20, currentlyโ still sees his pediatrician, but acknowledges he’s in the minority. “I have a lot of friends that go to theโ clinic on their โขcampus,” he said.”Its a lot more affordable and I guess than can โคcount as an adult doctor.” He believes the โคdecisionโฃ largely comes down โto personal preference, noting the deadline ofโฃ ageโค 21. “I think it really just depends onโ preference. But you have to doโ it by 21, so I’d suspect probably around when you graduate high school, which would โฃbe โฃaround 18.”
Dr.โฃ Riegner also recognizes that some adolescents may feel more โcomfortable โdiscussing sensitive topics with a doctor whoโข has no prior relationship with their family.โข “There is the comfort,” she said.”But sometimes they might not be as honest โคwith me. When they move โคonto anโ adult โdoctor,I do think โคthere might be aโ sense of,’hey,my parents have โno connection โhereโข so maybe I can be more free toโค speak.’ I’dโ like to think they โfeel comfortable with meโ too. But I understand that sometimes theyโ need to move onโ and talk about adult thingsโฃ withโ adult โpeople.”
ultimately, Dr. Riegner views the transition as a natural partโฃ of her โคpractice, often โcontinuing careโ with โthe next generation. “And then when theโ time comes, I see their kid,”โค she โคsaid. “I haveโ lots of grandpatients now that โขI have been practicing this long.”