Cooper University Hospital Is Improving Care for Patients with Autism

On November 30th, our Director of Clinical Initiatives, Lauren Frederick (pictured above) was a featured speaker at Cooper University Hospital’s “Perspectives of Care: Innovating Clinical Care for our Patients with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities.”

This half-day conference was designed for Advanced Practice Practitioners, Registered Nurses, and other healthcare providers and promoted improving compassionate care for patients with autism and I/DD. In addition to Lauren’s presentation on how the use of autism-friendly practices and the incorporation of behavioral professionals into medical care teams can improve hospitalizations, participants listened to a self-advocate speak on healthcare experiences and a parent’s experiences with her adult son. The conference concluded with an interactive and enlightening panel discussion between speakers and audience and networking opportunities.

Cooper University Hospital is an active member of Autism New Jersey’s Healthcare Consortium and has been a leader in advancing autism-friendly care in South Jersey, funded in part by a $2 million grant from the NJ Department of Health. Through this funding, along with the support of hospital administration, Cooper has added staff education on autism and I/DD, patient navigation services, and access to multi-sensory materials and spaces. And most importantly, Cooper recognizes the importance of collaboration with interdisciplinary teams to improve health outcomes for individuals with autism and I/DD. A conference last spring planned by Cooper, Bancroft (another Healthcare Consortium member), and Autism New Jersey highlighted the need for these types of partnerships. Ms. Frederick’s invitation to speak at this most recent conference is an example of the importance Cooper places on medical-behavioral collaboration and of their dedication to high-quality compassionate healthcare for autistic patients.

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Our 800.4.AUTISM Helpline is always available to provide support and resources while you navigate your child’s healthcare needs.