In 2020, the CDC reported that approximately one in 54 children is diagnosed with an Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD). And the families of those children face several barriers in accessing quality healthcare, leading to many autistic children who are at risk of receiving undertreatment or no treatment at all. 

Autism impacts all ethnic and socioeconomic groups, and related health problems can occur across an entire lifetime, from young infants to senior citizens. Unfortunately, proper care for autism and its associated conditions is not often provided when and how it should be. For example, teens with autism receive transition healthcare service half as often as those with other special healthcare needs, and children whose autism is associated with additional medical problems are even less likely to receive that transitional care, according to Autism Speaks. But there are ways to change all these overlooked and weak areas in the care process with a thoughtful technology architecture involved. 

Common obstacles to care

While the healthcare industry has collectively introduced many different care programs and initiatives to care for people with autism, many families still face barriers in the system. The three most common are as follows:

1. Navigating the complexities of the healthcare ecosystem to find the right type of care at the right location

2. Families are required to remember, link, and produce care and treatment-related information that resides in different siloed systems at different providers

3. Managing the stress and anxiety related to visiting a healthcare provider due to long and multiple wait times

The system for autism care can certainly be daunting, but hope and constant innovation are on our side. Salesforce Health Cloud is a prime example of this I’d like to highlight. Salesforce provides health care institutions with a solution—not just a product. The solution looks at the ecosystem from the lens of the patient and helps create a 360-degree, patient-centric service. Let’s take a closer look at each barrier mentioned above. 

Right provider, right network, and right location

As the complexities in the healthcare system increase through the introduction of various new care programs and initiatives, families often find it difficult to access the right program, at the right time, and at the right location. Salesforce enables the healthcare ecosystem to connect with each other seamlessly. Through a comprehensive provider network management capability, patients and members can find the right provider under the insurance network and for the location desired using an intelligent digital portal. The responsive portal design allows families and caretakers to access information anytime anywhere through mobile devices. 

Patient-centric healthcare

Through point-and-click integration in Salesforce, connecting and accessing patient information safely and securely has never been easier. Providers can access a patient’s medical history, medications, test results, and care performance seamlessly in real-time through the digital network. While providers have all the information necessary to determine the best next steps of care, families can go back to focusing on what matters most—providing care and support to their loved ones. 

Streamline patient care, remove unnecessary steps, and shorten wait times

One of the strongest capabilities of any system design is its ability to monitor key performance metrics and highlight improvement opportunities. Salesforce, as the single source of truth for not only patient data but also for the provider process, allows providers the opportunity to constantly improve their patient care by collecting relevant patient data only once. This removes redundant steps on the patient side and shortens wait times. Salesforce Health Cloud can create an ecosystem in which each patient is provided with custom care but without the overhead and burden of maintaining separate data and processes. 

Autism affects so many. While the providers and caregivers provide the best care they possibly can, improving autism care is still a collective responsibility of the entire healthcare ecosystem With all parts working as one, positive change is more and more likely. Salesforce enables each healthcare team member to seamlessly connect, access information, improve understanding, remove barriers, and provide better care. Together we can care better.