Optimizing Pediatric Emergency Care Experience for Patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder

Individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) exhibit significant heterogeneity, with variations in the severity of verbal and nonverbal communication, receptive communication abilities, social interactions, and restricted or repetitive patterns of behavior, interests, and activities. Delivering effective healthcare to this population presents considerable challenges for healthcare providers (HCPs), as it requires addressing diverse factors such as age, symptom severity, communication styles, sensory sensitivities, behavioral concerns, and individualized motivators. To address these complexities, it is essential to develop effective mechanisms that facilitate communication between HCPs and patients with ASD while also providing practical interventions to mitigate anxiety and stress in this population. Although existing research has primarily focused on enhancing social skills, communication abilities, and independent living among individuals with ASD, there remains a notable gap in studies examining their experiences within medical settings—particularly in the emergency department (ED). This paper aims to bridge this gap by being one of the first studies to investigate strategies for enhancing emergency care experiences for both patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and healthcare providers. We propose a comprehensive autism support system designed to address the multifaceted needs of individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), incorporating input from families and healthcare professionals (HCPs) to ensure its practicality and effectiveness. Our proposed solution has been introduced to the ASD community and healthcare professionals, and the initial feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.