January 18, 2020 Sponsored Content: » Medical
When patients with special needs like autism have a medical emergency, providing the appropriate level of care takes more than medical knowledge—it takes empathy, patience, and thoughtful planning.
That’s why the emergency and rapid care teams at Columbia Memorial Health, which primarily serves patients in Columbia, Greene, and Dutchess counties, go the extra mile to treat patients who need help acclimating to a clinical or hospital setting.
“Going to the doctor can be scary for anyone,” says Dr. Michael Weisberg, Chief of Emergency Medicine at Columbia Memorial Health. “So when it comes to patients who need a little bit of additional care, we’ll do everything we can to make the experience as painless and comfortable as possible.”
Both the Emergency Department at Columbia Memorial Health and their Rapid Care centers in Copake and Valatie have dedicated rooms for patients with autism, who might struggle with the high stimulation of the surrounding clinical environment. These rooms feature lower furniture, calming paint colors, sensory blankets, and iPads to help ease communication.
“As medical providers we have a responsibility to be mindful of each of our patients’ cultural, intellectual, and physical needs,” Dr. Weisberg explains. “Just like we have a handicap-accessible entrance, we need to have extra tools to make sure we can listen, communicate, and ultimately treat everyone who comes through our doors.”