Getting timely care for an illness or injury can trigger extreme anxiety for people with autism, but Long Island families with autistic children now have a more supportive option for urgent care.

Northwell Health-GoHealth is leading the way in making urgent care less scary and more comfortable for all its pediatric patients by addressing sensory overload, accommodating the needs of patients with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and their families and developing private ways for patients or guardians to self-identify as being on the spectrum.

In recognition of this effort, Autism Speaks presented three Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care pediatric centers with the “Autism Friendly Designation” this month.

Autism Speaks is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting solutions across the spectrum and throughout the lifespan for people with autism and their families and is the largest autism advocacy organization in the United States.

Northwell Health-GoHealth is the first urgent care provider in the nation to earn the Autism Friendly Designation from Autism Speaks.

The designation signals to the community that team members at the three Northwell Health-GoHealth centers – in Lake Success, East Northport and Hewlett – are committed to providing the highest quality of inclusive service by recognizing and accommodating the diverse needs of people with autism and their families.

“Typically, families and patients with autism stay away from healthcare environments that they’re not familiar with, including urgent care, which can be a problem when an illness or injury happens. The waiting room, not knowing what to expect and concerns with not being understood are their main sources of anxiety,” Dr. Lynda Gerberg, Lead Pediatrician for Northwell Health-GoHealth Pediatric Urgent Care, said.“We wanted to create a more supportive and accommodating environment in urgent care centers for people with ASD where all people feel understood and comfortable seeking medical attention.”

Developed and provided by Autism Speaks, the designation program helps foster organizational understanding and acceptance of people with ASD, as well as their family members and those who support them.

“Because each individual with autism is different and has a distinct set of needs, it is so important for the community to have access to personalized care,” Arianna Esposito, Autism Speaks’ vice president of services and supports, lifespan programs, said. “In completing autism-friendly trainings and implementing resources and supports developed by experts, including self-advocates, families, clinicians and researchers at Autism Speaks, Northwell Health-GoHealth centers have demonstrated a commitment to providing inclusive care options for patients and their families, bringing us one step closer to achieving a more understanding and accepting world for all.”

The initiative comes at a time when one in 36 children and one in 45 adults fall on the autism spectrum. Autism impacts more than 80 million people worldwide. The families of nearly 17,000 children on Long Island are touched by ASD, each experiencing their own unique strengths and challenges.

Yet many individuals with autism and their caretakers forego medical care or avoid healthcare settings because they feel misunderstood or face communication barriers. Both the lack of autism-specific training for healthcare providers and the absence of suitable physical environments in healthcare centers contribute to their discomfort, leading to a significant barrier to accessing necessary medical care.

The teams at Northwell Health-GoHealth’s pediatric centers have eagerly embraced the opportunity to remove those barriers by improving communication with patients and creating tools to help patients and their families feel more comfortable.

“I’m most proud of seeing the enthusiasm from our team as we all grow and learn. The Autism Speaks Autism Friendly Designation signals to the community that we’re here for inclusive and compassionate care,” Gerberg said. “Over time, we hope to establish a culture in urgent care that feels welcoming to patients with ASD.”