In an ongoing effort to provide exceptional care for autistic individuals, Pikeville Medical Center Emergency Department renews its Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation, which it has held for four years. The designation, granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES), ensures that emergency department staff receive continuous support and training. This enables them to more effectively treat, manage care for, and communicate with autistic individuals seeking medical assistance.
“Maintaining the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation shows the strong commitment to meeting the needs of autistic individuals, especially in high-stress environments like the emergency departments,” says Dale Morton, Pikeville Medical Center Emergency Department Director. “This is a significant achievement, as it requires ongoing training and adherence to best practices for autism care. This designation not only helps ensure that staff are well prepared to support autistic patients but also contributes to a more inclusive and understanding healthcare environment. It demonstrates our dedication to improving care and accessibility for everyone.”
Alongside the training and certification, Pikeville Medical Center has established an autism learning center. This center aids staff in gaining a deeper understanding and delivering calming emergency care for autistic patients.
“Autistic individuals react differently to sensory experiences and input, communication, pain, and even anesthesia. We are proud to recertify Pikeville Medical Center Emergency Department as a Certified Autism Center™ and witness their ongoing commitment to improving the patient experience for every person that visits the emergency department,” says Myron Pincomb, IBCCES board chairman.
PMC’s mission is to advance the health and well-being of our region through comprehensive care in a Christian environment. For more information, please visit www.pikevillehospital.org
Since 2001, IBCCES has been the leader in autism, neurodiversity, and cognitive disorder training and certification for healthcare, education, and corporate professionals around the globe. IBCCES created programs specifically for police and fire departments so staff would be more knowledgeable and other accommodations could be offered to this growing, but underserved, part of the community. IBCCES is the only credentialing board offering these types of programs, which include training from subject matter experts and autistic self-advocates, as well as long-term support, continuous learning, and more.
IBCCES also created CertifiedAutismCenter.com, as a free online resource for parents that lists certified locations and professionals. Each organization listed on the site has met the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) requirements.
About Pikeville Medical Center
The Kentucky Emergency Medical Services for Children (KYEMSC) Program has named Pikeville Medical Center’s emergency department a pediatric-ready emergency department, a distinction shared by only four other hospitals in Kentucky.
The goal of the KYEMSC Program is to decrease pediatric mortality and morbidity due to severe illness or injury by enhancing pediatric emergency care services throughout the Commonwealth through building partnerships across the continuum of emergency care, offering special programs and training opportunities, and through policy development, which is required of a Pediatric Ready Certified Emergency Department.
About IBCCES
Committed to providing The Global Standard for Training and Certification in The Field of Cognitive Disorders – IBCCES provides a series of certifications that empower professionals to be leaders in their field and improve the outcomes for the individuals they serve. These programs are recognized around the world as the leading benchmark for training and certification in the areas of autism and other cognitive disorders.
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