Hackensack pediatric ER renews autism certification

The Pediatric Emergency Department at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital in Hackensack has renewed its IBCCES Certified Autism Center designation after updated staff training. The recertification highlights a broader push to make emergency and pediatric care more sensory-friendly for autistic and neurodiverse children and their families.

Why it matters: - The renewed certification signals that the pediatric emergency department has standardized autism-focused training for patient-facing staff. - The designation is meant to reduce sensory overload, improve communication and make emergency care safer and more accessible for autistic and sensory-sensitive children. - Hackensack Meridian Health is also using the recertification to extend autism-support practices across its children’s health network.

What happened: - IBCCES renewed the Certified Autism Center designation for the Pediatric Emergency Department at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital at Hackensack University Medical Center. - The renewal was announced July 2, 2026. - At least 80% of the children’s hospital patient-facing staff completed updated training to keep the credential. - The hospital had first earned the designation in 2024.

The details: - Gregory Sugalski, chair of emergency medicine at Hackensack University Medical Center, said the emergency department’s fast-paced, high-sensory environment makes specialized training especially valuable. - Sugalski said the training gives clinical teams tools to reduce sensory overload, improve communication and de-escalate anxiety for autistic patients. - Alice Kazekjian, administrative director of nursing, said the recertification shows sustained dedication to meeting the needs of autistic patients and families. - Virteeka Sinha, division chief of pediatric emergency medicine, said the training helps physicians, nurses and staff deliver more patient-centered care. - Hackensack Meridian Health said it has expanded several autism-support initiatives since the original designation. - Sensory carts are available across the network in pediatric spaces, including emergency departments, oncology units and pediatric intensive care units. - The carts include noise-canceling headphones and other support items to help during stressful procedures such as blood draws. - The Patient Passport lets caregivers share a child’s triggers and sensory issues so providers can tailor care. - The Epic Coping Tool was integrated into the Epic electronic health record system this spring after five years of development. - The tool prompts nurses to ask caregivers about developmental needs such as ADHD and autism. - If families share trigger or sensory information, a blue heart appears in the record and a blue heart magnet is placed on the patient’s door. - That signal tells team members to consult nursing before entering the room. - The Epic Coping Tool will be available in inpatient, outpatient and ambulatory settings. - The tool started as a pilot Pediatrics program at Joseph M. Sanzari Children’s Hospital. - Autism Sprint is designed to expand diagnostic capacity and reduce wait times for developmental-behavioral evaluations. - The program prioritizes young patients showing possible autism-spectrum behaviors so families can begin treatment earlier. - The “While You Wait” workshop gives families resources from the moment they request a developmental evaluation. - The workshop includes guidance on the evaluation process, letters for school Child Study Teams, and early intervention and mental health information. - IBCCES said the renewal reflects the hospital’s continued commitment to an inclusive environment for children and families. - The Pediatric Emergency Department is listed on the free IBCCES Accessibility App. - IBCCES also offers free online resources at AccessibilityCertified.com and AutismTravel.com.

Between the lines: - The certification is part of a broader trend in healthcare toward sensory-aware and neurodiversity-informed care. - Hackensack Meridian Health is treating autism access as a systems issue, not just a single-department training exercise. - The network’s tools are designed to make support visible in the workflow, which can help staff act faster and more consistently. - The hospital’s approach also appears aimed at easing family stress before and during evaluation, not only during emergency visits.

What's next: - The hospital will need to maintain the certification through ongoing staff training and IBCCES renewal requirements. - Hackensack Meridian Health is likely to keep expanding autism-focused tools and workflows across pediatric settings. - Families can continue using the IBCCES app and related directories to find certified locations and resources.

The bottom line: - The recertification formalizes Hackensack’s autism-friendly emergency care efforts and ties them to wider network changes intended to improve access, communication and safety for neurodiverse children.