# An Innovative Transitional Care Unit for Hospital to Home Transition of Children With Medical Complexity: A Qualitative Study of Parents' Experiences

## TL;DR

This study explores how a specialized transitional care unit helps parents of children with complex medical needs transition from hospital to home, highlighting both benefits and challenges.

## Contribution

The study provides new insights into the experiences of parents using a stand-alone transitional care unit for hospital-to-home transitions of children with medical complexity.

## Key findings

- Parents reported gaining confidence through supervised training and a homelike environment.
- Psychosocial support and peer connections were crucial for emotional recovery.
- Barriers included privacy concerns and systemic coordination issues.

## Abstract

Hospital‐to‐home (H2H) transitions of children with medical complexity (CMC) are a multifaceted process with many challenges and obstacles, especially for parents. The ‘Jeroen Pit Huis’ (JPH) is a stand‐alone, innovative transitional care unit (TCU) that aims to improve the transition home. This study explored parents' experiences with the H2H transition via the JPH TCU setting, including the facilitators and barriers that shaped this process.

A qualitative study using semistructured interviews was conducted between January and November 2023. Interviews were audio recorded and transcribed verbatim and analysed thematically. Data collection continued until thematic saturation was reached.

Twenty‐one parents (13 mothers and 8 fathers) of 14 CMC participated in 14 interviews. Inductive thematic analysis identified the following five interrelated processes shaping parental experiences: regaining control and confidence, emotional recovery and resilience, relational dynamics and family adaptation, navigating care systems, as well as child well‐being and development. Across these processes, parents reported key facilitators—grouped into the following four domains: TCU supportive environment, professional guidance and continuity, family and peer empowerment, as well as coordinated care systems. At the same time, barriers were described across four domains: privacy and boundaries, emotional and psychological strain, family equity challenges, as well as systemic and practical barriers.

Parents experienced H2H transition via the TCU valuable for the well‐being and development of both their child and family. By capturing both facilitators and barriers, this study underscores the opportunities and challenges of a stand‐alone TCU and provides insights to inform the development of transitional care for CMC.

A stand‐alone transitional care unit offers a crucial bridge between hospital and home for children with medical complexity and their families, combining skill‐building with family adaptation.Parents gained confidence and preparedness for home care through supervised training, practicing emergencies and continuous professional presence in a homelike setting.Psychosocial support, family togetherness and peer connections fostered emotional recovery and resilience, emphasizing the importance of nontechnical aspects of transitional care.Four key facilitators—supportive environment, professional guidance and continuity, family and peer empowerment and coordinated care systems—shaped positive transitional care experiences.Barriers such as privacy concerns, emotional strain, family equity challenges and systemic obstacles underline the need for clearer communication, role clarity and stronger cross‐system coordination.

A stand‐alone transitional care unit offers a crucial bridge between hospital and home for children with medical complexity and their families, combining skill‐building with family adaptation.

Parents gained confidence and preparedness for home care through supervised training, practicing emergencies and continuous professional presence in a homelike setting.

Psychosocial support, family togetherness and peer connections fostered emotional recovery and resilience, emphasizing the importance of nontechnical aspects of transitional care.

Four key facilitators—supportive environment, professional guidance and continuity, family and peer empowerment and coordinated care systems—shaped positive transitional care experiences.

Barriers such as privacy concerns, emotional strain, family equity challenges and systemic obstacles underline the need for clearer communication, role clarity and stronger cross‐system coordination.