Bergen New Bridge Medical Center Emergency Department Receives Certified Autism Center™ Designation, Enhancing Accessibility for Patients

More than 80% of Emergency Department staff completed training and certification

Bergen New Bridge Medical Center’s Emergency Department has received the Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) designation granted by the International Board of Credentialing and Continuing Education Standards (IBCCES). In addition to the training and certification, IBCCES also completed an onsite review of the medical center to provide additional recommendations to enhance the overall experience for autistic and sensory-sensitive patients and their families.

“In response to the needs expressed by the diverse populations we serve, our new Emergency Department will feature a living room design with a calming environment where neurodivergent individuals can feel comfortable and safe,” said Deborah Visconi, President & CEO, Bergen New Bridge Medical Center. "We were proud to partner with IBCCES to become a Certified Autism Center™ so that our team has the training to provide equitable emergency care to all those who need it, enhancing health equity and improving patient outcomes.”

Individuals with autism often have differences from neurotypical patients related to communication, pain perception, and other treatments, highlighting the importance of autism training for hospital and emergency department staff. This can help prevent unnecessary care delays or misdiagnosis, patient anxiety, and potential sensory meltdowns.

“Bergen New Bridge Medical Center’s Emergency Department is leading the way to more inclusion for autistic and sensory-sensitive patients, which can be life-changing for many families. We’re excited to continue to support them as they provide much-needed care for their community,” said Myron Pincomb, Board Chairman, IBCCES.

Since 2001, IBCCES has been the leader in autism, neurodiversity, and cognitive training and certification for healthcare, education, and corporate professionals around the globe. IBCCES created programs specifically for hospitals, emergency rooms, and other medical professionals to help better support this growing, but underserved, part of the community. IBCCES is the only credentialing board offering these types of programs, which include training from subject matter experts and autistic self-advocates, as well as long-term support, continuous learning, and more.

IBCCES also created CertifiedAutismCenter.com, a free online resource for parents that lists certified locations and professionals. Each organization listed on the site has met Certified Autism Center™ (CAC) requirements.