Healthcare Professionals
For Physicans, Nurses, PAs, and Medical Technicians
This training session takes a hands-on approach to autism, enabling healthcare professionals to recognize and interact with children and adults on the autism spectrum that they may encounter in a variety of real-life situations.
Topics Covered:
- Overview of autism and Asperger’s syndrome, including signs and symptoms
- Interaction guidelines (including advanced prepration, approach, de-escalation, communication, assessment, behavior management, common procedures, and transport strategies)
- Management of specific scenarios for emergency care, medical procedures, in-patient treatment, follow-up care, etc.
- The importance of the caregiver/family-physician partnership
- Additional resources
Learner Objectives:
- Anticipate and be prepared for challenges associated with treating and communicating with this population
- Understand and be able to use alternative communication methods for a population with limited verbal and social skills
- Successfully devise and implement creative strategies/treatment options for individuals who can not tolerate tests and procedures performed in the standard way
- Manage the individual with autism in the doctor's office, ER, ICU, in-patient unit, etc.
- Recognize common, though often misdiagnosed, co-occurring conditions that may contribute to the overall health and well-being of the individual
- Work with families/caregivers in providing and coordinating appropriate care for the affected individual
- Understand common scenarios and know how to handle them appropriately
- Appreciate the need for, and implement, a modified search and rescue protocol for individuals with autism
- Use increased awareness to develop partnerships with families