Autism and Pediatric Practice: Toward a Medical Home

The pediatrician sees a child for 11 well child visits by their third birthday. The provision of continuous primary care supports development of trust with parents, provides opportunity for screening and surveillance of autism spectrum disorders (ASD), allows monitoring the progress of children requiring therapy, and a framework to support and educate families. Families of children with ASD are less likely to report that they receive care in a Medical Home, a practice providing coordinated, accessible, continuous, culturally competent care. They report less access to specialty and family focused care compared to other children with special health care needs. It is a major challenge to identify and effect the solutions necessary to bring Medical Home care to all children with ASD.