In new guidance, the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends that care for hospitalized adolescents with intellectual or developmental disabilities “focus on their ability to participate in care and consent to decision-making.” . (think stock)
The country’s pediatricians are receiving guidance for the first time on how best to care for hospitalized adolescents with developmental disabilities.
The guidelines are part of a policy statement and clinical report issued this month by the American Academy of Pediatrics to meet the needs of all hospitalized patients ages 13-18.
In particular, the guidance states that hospitalized patients with developmental disabilities should be given the opportunity to participate in care.
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“In order to ensure that health care providers do not use the presence of a disability to minimize a patient’s autonomy or tailor participation to the patient’s capabilities, individuals with disabilities should be identified as much as possible. It’s important to get yourself involved in your care.Journal Pediatrics.
The pediatrics group suggests that people with intellectual disabilities spend longer in the hospital, spend more time in intensive care units, and have higher rates of surgical complications than others with the same diagnosis. It cites evidence from studies of adults who
Pediatricians are advised to note that environmental changes can be “extremely stressful” for people with developmental disabilities. Adolescents in this population may associate hospitals with illness and pain, and may struggle with the noise, crowds, and changes in routine that occur during hospitalization.
According to the guidelines, parents and families are encouraged to become “children’s experts.”
“Caregivers can provide insight into adolescents’ developmental stages and help hospital personnel understand individual preferences and habits,” the report said. “It is important that the hospital team builds rapport, assesses developmental stages, and, if possible, explains all aspects of hospitalization, including treatments and procedures, in a developmentally appropriate manner.”
This guidance also includes information on situations in which patients with developmental disabilities require sedation and how to assess pain in patients with communication disorders.
Discharge planning should “include careful coordination of new supplies/equipment and home health care services and/or resumption of outpatient services to ensure safe discharge and continuity of care,” said the Pediatrics Group. I am pointing out.
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