An innovative program to improve the hospital experiences of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities

The Surgeon General (2002) issued “Closing the Gap,” a blueprint to improve the health of individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (I/DD), a population who often have poor access to health care. The report calls on health care providers to take concrete steps to provide services that respond to the characteristics and health care needs of individuals with I/DD. Rush University Medical Center (RUMC) established the Adults with Developmental Disabilities Committee in response staff concerns about the adequacy of training and of services needed to successfully care for patients with I/DD. The multidisciplinary committee has members from human resources, medicine, nursing, social services, the volunteer department, outpatient services, various hospital units, and the university. The committee seeks and receives community input. Projects of the committee include: 1: Designing alternative educational programs to prepare adults with I/DD for hospitalization and specific procedures; 2. Recruiting qualified volunteers to be trained to “buddy” with patients with I/DD who might benefit; 3. Developing an addendum specific for patients with I/DD to the nursing admission assessment. The addendum provides information necessary to provide safe, individualized, sensitive, and developmentally appropriate care; 4.Creating a survey for staff regarding their needs in serving this population. Evaluation of survey data and of available training materials will be used in the development of a staff training program. 5. Acquiring appropriate educational and recreational materials useful for patients with I/DD. The innovative program at RUMC provides valuable experience on improving the delivery of health care to individuals with I/DD.