The Adult Complex Primary Care Clinic has been created to serve adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities and complex medical needs. We are the primary “medical home” for individuals age 18 and over accepted into our program and we coordinate care with your specialists, community, and home health teams.

Who is eligible for Adult Complex Primary Care?

Individuals 18 and over with intellectual or developmental disability and one or more of:

• Three or more major organ systems are involved in their medical condition
• Receiving care from three or more medical and/or surgical specialists (not including behavioral health)
• Have an unplanned hospital stay, multiple ED visits, or have had 10 or more specialty clinic visits in the past year (we count therapies as one specialty visit)

Many of the individuals we care for:

• Use a feeding tube
• Have seizures or other neurologic problems
• Have breathing issues or use a mechanical ventilator
• Take many medications

How can I receive Complex Primary Care?

Teens with intellectual and developmental disabilities transitioning from the pediatric care system, including the Mary Bridge Complex Primary Care Clinic, are evaluated in the Adult Developmental Clinic (see above). The Adult Developmental Clinic assists with arranging adult primary care and may recommend care in the Adult Complex Primary Care Clinic. Care continues with your pediatric providers until a visit to establish adult care has occurred.

For older adults interested in care through our clinic, please call to inquire about eligibility for Complex Primary Care. Your records will be reviewed. Initial consultation through the Adult Developmental Clinic may be advised.

If we are accepting new patients and you are found to be eligible, our team will call you to schedule an appointment.

Are there barriers to receiving care from the Adult Complex Primary Care Clinic?

Our mission is to serve adults and families whose needs cannot be met by usual primary care. Sometimes, however, our clinic may not be accepting new patients, and we ask that you call back every few months to check on provider status.

An individual may also not be eligible to receive Adult Complex Primary Care if their health problems are best managed other specialists with the expertise and resources for their conditions. Examples include cancer, transplants, mental health disorders, and chronic pain.

What happens at the first Complex Primary Care appointment?

During your first visit we will:

• Review your history and current needs.
• Listen to your concerns and future needs.
• Assist with any needed care connections
• Provide an after-visit summary of our plan

Our appointments are typically 45 minutes to allow a more comprehensive assessment and care planning. Longer appointments may occasionally be needed for more complex planning.

What can I expect as a patient?

• We will see you at least every four to six months. If you are due for an annual visit, we will schedule that as soon as possible and address preventive care.
• We help with referrals, arrange medical equipment or other supplies, and assist with forms, home health plans and community resources.
• We provide phone advice and/or clinic visits when you are ill. We may give advice on how to manage issues at home, see you for an acute visit, or refer you to the emergency department. We can contact the ED to provide background to facilitate your visit.
• Individuals served in this clinic are hospitalized by the Tacoma Family Medicine inpatient team at Tacoma General Hospital unless you require ICU or surgical specialty care. This provides improved continuity of care across the hospital stay and clinic follow-up.

Between visits, please call or send a MyChart message if you have questions and don’t know who to ask. We may call you to provide test results, schedule appointments and ask questions about your medical needs. Please let us know if your phone number or address has changed.