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Autism

Assessing patients with autism: Pitfalls and communication tips

Jennifer Dantzler, director of the Including Kids Autism Center, joins the podcast to share how EMS can better care for and communicate with patients with autism

March 25, 2021 12:49 PM • 
MCHD Paramedic Podcast
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Photo/AMU

Anytime we arrive on scene with blaring sirens and flashing lights, this can be exceedingly stressful on patients and families. This is especially true for our patients with autism.

In this episode of the MCHD Paramedic Podcast, MCHD Medical Directors Dr. Robert Dickson and Dr. Casey Patrick are joined by Jennifer Dantzler, director of the Including Kids Autism Center and a true expert in the field of autism spectrum disorder.

Together, they discuss autism basics along with some tools you can use in the prehospital setting to better care for and communicate with our autistic patients, including:

  • What is the biggest issue when communicating with individuals who have autism?
  • Are people with autism violent?
  • What are common medications that persons with autism may be taking?
  • What is STEMMING?
  • What are the worst mistakes people make when trying to communicate, direct or assess someone who has autism?
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Supporting and caring for special needs and at-risk populations

Experts share their best practices for working with exceptional patients, and strategies and procedures that aid in creating a successful interaction for all involved

Autism Communications / Dispatch Podcasts Special Needs Patients
MCHD Paramedic Podcast
MCHD Paramedic Podcast

The MCHD Paramedic Podcast was launched in early 2018 in an effort to provide easily consumable core-content EMS education and insights from prehospital care thought leaders. The Clinical Services Department of The Montgomery County Hospital District EMS service developed the podcast as a tool to better engage and disseminate continuing education to our MCHD medics as well as first responders and EMS professionals nationwide.

Dr. Casey Patrick is the assistant medical director for Montgomery County Hospital District EMS and is a practicing emergency physician in multiple community emergency departments across Greater Houston. His EMS educational focus is on innovative paramedic teaching via the MCHD Paramedic Podcast. Dr. Patrick’s prehospital clinical research involves the investigation of paramedic use of bolus dose intravenous nitroglycerin for acute pulmonary edema and the implementation of lung protective ventilation strategies for intubated EMS patients. Casey and his wife, Alyssa, work and live in Conroe, Texas, and Spokane, Washington. Together they have five children: Mia, Ainsley, Brock, Dean and Will.

Dr. Dickson graduated with honors from the University of Texas Health Science Center San Antonio in 2001 and completed emergency medicine training at Indiana University in 2004. He serves as the EMS medical director at Montgomery County Hospital District EMS and an assistant professor of emergency medicine at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. His academic interests include systems of care in stroke and other time-sensitive emergencies, neurologic emergencies and education. He is board certified in emergency medicine in both the U.S. and Australasia, and has subspecialty board certification in EMS medicine. He has authored multiple professional articles and presented at regional, national and international conferences on emergency medicine and EMS topics.

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