New Britain, Conn. — Connecticut’s Hospital for Special Care (HSC) will soon be opening an in-patient clinic for children and individuals with autism spectrum disorder.
The project is part of an expansion of the hospital’s autism services, which started with an out-patient autism clinic back in 2012. HSC President and Chief Executive Lynn Ricci said that the unit will be of great help to children with autism in the state, as well as their families. She told:
“Until now, families have had to leave Connecticut and travel to Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New Hampshire or Maine to receive inpatient care for their children and adolescents with ASD. The in-patient unit is the next step for HSC to continue to meet the specialized needs of this patient population in Connecticut. Driving out of state is an undue burden that disrupts family dynamics and can be financially challenging to many.”
HSC’s out-patient clinic was made possible through a $500,000 grant from the Department of Developmental Services.
In a statement by DDS Commissioner Morna Murray, she told:
“Autism knows no demographic or geographic boundary, and this new unit located centrally in New Britain will be a great asset to many of Connecticut’s families affected by ASD.”
The clinic will be attended to by its own behavioral analysts, behavioral technicians, occupational therapists, nurses, speech therapists, and a therapeutic recreational specialist. Case managers, dietitians, developmental pediatricians, pharmacists, and social workers will also be providing services at the clinic. Child and Adolescent Psychiatrist Dr. Patricia Aguayo will be in charge of the unit, and will be leading the interdisciplinary provision of the treatments.
Source: Jeff Gebeau: New Britain Herald: Hospital for Special Care to open inpatient autism unit