Integrating Autism-Specific Care Plans for Pediatrics: Increasing Satisfaction

Abstract Recent studies have explored the importance on integrating Autism-Specific Care Plans (ACP) into practice. These care plans provide patients with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) or their caregivers the opportunity to identify individualized needs that are imperative for healthcare providers to provide personalized care and accommodations. These ACPs identify baseline characteristics, behavior patterns, communication techniques and management strategies for the patient with ASD during hospitalization. The focus of the ACP is to recognize patient needs and make those available to those providing care. Understanding the patient’s normal behavior variations can alert providers to a problems or stressors of the patient that can be avoided. The goal is to understand patient needs and expectations in order to deliver individualized care, which leads to better outcomes and satisfaction. The pilot study conducted by Broder-Fingert et al. (2015) investigated the impact that an ACP had on patient/caregiver via a survey that analyzed capability of staff to responds to ASD specific needs. Johnson & Rodriguez. (2013) performed a systematic literature review and concluded that the four most common challenging behaviors seen in pediatric ASD patients were noncompliance, hyperactivity, sensory defensiveness and self-injury. McGonigle et al. (2013) developed educational materials for emergency department staff that later evolved into an instrument to prepare employees for a patient’s ASD. This evidence was a guide on creating an Autism-Specific Care Plan that will lead to better outcomes and satisfaction rates with patients. Keywords: Autism, care plan, satisfaction, benefits, evidence, pediatric