Mesa’s Arizona General Hospital creates sensory kits to meet the needs of autistic patients

Kits help patients cope with sensory sensitivities common in hospital settings

(Mesa, Ariz. – Sept. 12, 2024) - The Arizona General Hospital team is meeting the sensory needs of patients on the autism spectrum through the deployment of specialized kits to help cultivate an inclusive and healing hospital environment on its Mesa campus. Sensory inclusion kits are available for autistic patients in an effort to provide individualized care for those who may need extra support in the health care setting.

The customizable kits include intervention items including noise-canceling headphones to help keep sounds such as beeping alarms, and overhead announcements at bay. They also feature sunglasses to block the florescent hospital lights, a whistle to provide an auditory cue of an overwhelming situation, and a fidget to distract or occupy the patient during stressful moments like lab testing. Other communication tools are also available as needed.

“We are incredibly proud to help further our mission of caring for vulnerable groups in our community through the sensory inclusion kits,” said Kim Frazen, director of inpatient services at Dignity Health Arizona General Hospital. “A hospital visit can be unfamiliar and emotionally taxing, and we feel fortunate to help make the experience less overwhelming for patients with autism.”

Since offering the sensory inclusion kits this summer, the Arizona General Hospital team has been able to better assess autistic patients' medical conditions and provide care with the support of the patient’s family or caretaker.

The City of Mesa is the world’s first Autism Friendly City and Arizona General Hospital is proud to support this pursuit of inclusivity. In addition to its Mesa campus, Arizona General Hospital  also provides the kits at its hospital campus in Laveen and twelve satellite emergency departments across the Valley.

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