Patient and caregiver experiences at a specialized primary care center for autistic adults

Abstract

Background: Little is known about the extent to which patient-centered medical homes meet the needs of autistic adults. Materials & methods: We conducted a cross-sectional survey of autistic adult patients (n = 47) and caregivers of autistic adult patients (n = 66) receiving care through one patient-centered medical home specifically designed to meet the needs of this population. We performed post hoc comparisons of our results to previously published data from a national sample of autistic adults. Results: Participants reported high levels of satisfaction with care, frequent preventive healthcare use and few unmet healthcare needs. Autistic adults in our sample reported significantly higher satisfaction and fewer unmet healthcare needs. Conclusion: A patient-centered medical home tailored to the needs of autistic adults is a promising approach to healthcare delivery for meeting this population's needs.