Good Samaritan University Hospital St. Charles Campus Receives The Autism Friendly Designation

Catholic Health’s Good Samaritan University Hospital St. Charles Campus has received the Autism Friendly Designation from Autism Speaks in recognition of St. Charles’ commitment to creating a calm, welcoming and supportive environment for autistic patients and their families.

To earn the Autism Friendly Designation, a hospital/hospital campus must train at least 80% of patient-facing staff to provide specialized services and accommodations for people with autism spectrum disorder. St. Charles worked closely with Autism Speaks, the nation’s largest autism research and advocacy group, to ensure greater staff awareness of communication differences, sensory needs and potential triggers to reduce barriers to care and establish a safer, more compassionate environment for autistic patients.

“At St. Charles, we’re driven by a culture of compassion and excellence,” said James O’Connor, campus president at Good Samaritan University Hospital St. Charles Campus. “The Autism Friendly Designation is a reflection of the unwavering dedication of our frontline staff, who underwent extensive training on top of their busy schedules to ensure we’re prepared to meet the needs of any patient who comes through our doors. Their commitment to providing the best possible patient experience at every encounter defines our work.”

The St. Charles CALI Clinical Sensory Framework was integral to earning the Autism Friendly Designation. Short for Communicate, Adapt, Lower, Individualize, the CALI Framework is a structured approach to improving care coordination for patients of all ages with intellectual/developmental disabilities and sensory vulnerabilities.

“The St. Charles CALI Framework is designed to support vulnerable patients who may struggle to advocate for themselves,” said Melissa Pearson, NP, who oversees clinical care integration for intellectual and developmental disabilities at St. Charles and developed the CALI Framework. “At its core, CALI puts person-centered care into practice, and the Autism Friendly Designation is an incredible accomplishment in our ongoing journey to create the most accommodating, individualized care experiences for all our patients.”

To learn more about the services provided at Good Samaritan University Hospital St. Charles Campus, visit our website. For more information about the St. Charles CALI Clinical Sensory Framework, contact Melissa Pearson, NP, Clinical Care Integration (I/DD Services) at Good Samaritan University Hospital St. Charles Campus, at Melissa.Pearson@chsli.org or (631) 827-6962.