Six tips to better accommodate autistic patients

Healthcare settings can be overwhelming for anyone, but that can be especially true for autistic patients. Between the bright lights, noisy offices, and unpredictable wait times, a routine checkup can quickly devolve into a distressing situation. However, with some simple, thoughtful accommodations, providers can create a more positive experience for those patients and a more accessible environment overall.

Here are a few ways providers can better serve autistic patients:

1. Improve your communication
   Autistic patients can have difficulty navigating uncertainty. Help them feel more in control of the situation by using plain language and avoiding jargon, offering a visual explanation of what they can expect during their appointment, and providing them with written instructions for aftercare. Having something to look back on can make a world of difference.
   
   
2. Make your office sensory-friendly
   Creating a sensory-friendly space benefits everyone, including autistic patients who often struggle with sensory sensitivity. Small changes can make a big impact. This might look like dimming the lighting or offering patients sunglasses, trying your best to maintain a quiet waiting room, and minimizing strong scents from cleaning products and other chemicals.
   
   
3. Offer flexible appointments
   Loud, crowded spaces can be stressful for autistic patients. You can help reduce a person’s stress by offering them the first or last appointment of the day when the office is less crowded. Alternately, offering telehealth appointments to patients who struggle with in-person visits is also a great way to accommodate their needs.
   
   
4. Respect consent and autonomy
   This is something that applies to all patients but can go a long way in building rapport with those with autism. Clearly explain all procedures before touching patients and ask them for consent. Offer choices when you can, such as which arm they’d like their blood pressure checked. And perhaps most importantly, respect their decision if they say “no.”
   
   
5. Give your team the training they need
   Every person with autism is an individual with unique needs. Training your team about autism, sensory sensitivities, stimming, and alternative methods of communication can ensure patients are treated with the respect and dignity they deserve. This will result in a more well-rounded experience for everyone.
   
   
6. Use preferred methods of follow up
   With electronic medical records and web portals, patient follow up has become easier than ever. Patients with autism may prefer to keep their communication in writing when possible, so offer follow up emails, texts, or in-portal messages instead of phone calls. Let them know they can ask questions or contact you later for clarity.

Like all people, autistic patients deserve health care that is respectful and accommodating. You can never go wrong when striving to create a more accessible environment for your patients. At this point in time, accessibility is more than just a “nice to have” – it’s a necessity.

If you’re a member of Mass General Brigham Health Plan and you or your loved one requires resources for autism support, you can find them through our Member Portal at MGBHP.org.