Groundbreaking partnership with ALUT combines specialist staff training, a sensory-adapted treatment room, family support technology, and clinical research to transform emergency care for children with autism.

NETANYA, Israel – Laniado Hospital, in partnership with ALUT (The Israeli Society for Children and Adults with Autism), has become the first medical center in Israel to establish a Pediatric Emergency Department that is both autism-friendly and trauma-informed, setting a new national benchmark for emergency care for children with autism and other developmental disabilities.

The initiative combines comprehensive staff education, environmental redesign, innovative digital tools, and academic research to improve the emergency care experience for children, families, and healthcare professionals alike. Developed in collaboration with ALUT and supported by partners including Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, the Ministry of Health, and Tel Aviv University, the project is designed not only to transform care at Laniado Hospital but also to serve as a model for hospitals across Israel.

Children with autism and other developmental disabilities require emergency medical care significantly more often than the general population. Yet the Emergency Department can be one of the most overwhelming environments they encounter. Bright lighting, loud noises, crowded waiting areas, unfamiliar caregivers, physical examinations, and unpredictable procedures can all trigger severe sensory overload and anxiety. Combined with communication challenges and previous traumatic healthcare experiences, these factors often make emergency treatment more difficult for patients, families, and clinical teams.

The new Laniado-ALUT model addresses these challenges through specialized staff training, environmental adaptations, family-centered care, and ongoing research.

The initiative includes extensive multidisciplinary staff training, a purpose-built sensory treatment room (Snoezelen), and the development of digital tools to support families throughout their Emergency Department journey. Future phases include an online clinical protocol, a dedicated pain assessment questionnaire for children with communication challenges, and a structured autism training module for all new Emergency Department staff.

Teva Pharmaceutical Industries is supporting the initiative by funding key elements of the staff education program, digital clinical resources, and the accompanying research.

Emergency Department physicians, nurses, and allied health professionals completed extensive training led by ALUT, covering autism awareness, trauma-informed care, pain management, recognizing signs of distress, de-escalation techniques, personalized accommodation cards, interdisciplinary teamwork, and effective communication with children and their families.

In partnership with ALUT and the digital health company "Ma Shlomi?", Laniado Hospital is also developing "The Family's Journey in the Emergency Department," a dedicated mobile application designed to prepare parents before arrival, guide them throughout their visit, and provide practical tools and information to reduce anxiety and improve communication with clinical teams.

The initiative is accompanied by a joint research study conducted by Laniado Hospital, ALUT, and Tel Aviv University. Researchers will evaluate patient and family experience, staff confidence and implementation, clinical workflow, and broader health outcomes to assess the effectiveness of the model and support its expansion throughout Israel.

One of the project's signature innovations is the newly constructed sensory treatment room (Snoezelen), specifically designed for children with autism and other sensory sensitivities. The room incorporates acoustic insulation, adjustable lighting, calming visual elements, noise-canceling headphones, and two treatment options—a conventional medical bed and a heated waterbed—allowing children and families greater comfort and choice during treatment.

Clinical procedures are supported by distraction techniques, including virtual reality headsets, alongside local Anesthesia or mild sedation when appropriate to minimise pain and anxiety during medical interventions.

Dedi Attas, CEO of ALUT, said:

"The Emergency Department is one of the most challenging environments for a child with autism and their parents. Parents possess irreplaceable knowledge. They understand how their child communicates, what calms them, how they express pain, and what may trigger sensory overload. Listening to parents is not simply a courtesy, it is essential to providing excellent medical care. This project was born from the understanding that truly autism-friendly and trauma-informed care must address staff training, environmental design, family communication, and long-term knowledge retention. We thank the Laniado team for this outstanding partnership and hope this model will become the standard for emergency departments across Israel."

Dr. Hagit Poran Feldman, Director of the Pediatric Emergency Department at Laniado Hospital, said:

"We recognised that one of the greatest challenges facing our department was ensuring that every child, particularly those who struggle with communication or emotional regulation, could receive the highest quality care in a way that feels safe and respectful. Becoming an autism-friendly Emergency Department required us to build flexibility into a fast-paced clinical environment while placing children and their families at the center of every decision. Parents are essential partners in care, and together we have created a more inclusive, compassionate, and empowering experience for both families and healthcare professionals."

Nadav Chen, CEO of Laniado Hospital, said:

"This initiative represents far more than the opening of a new treatment room. It reflects our commitment to ensuring that every child receives exceptional emergency care delivered with dignity, compassion, and respect for their individual needs. Together with the Ministry of Health, ALUT, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries, and Tel Aviv University, we are proud to introduce a model that we hope will become the new national standard for pediatric emergency care throughout Israel. My sincere thanks and appreciation go to everyone whose vision, dedication, and partnership made this groundbreaking project possible."

About Laniado Hospital

Founded by the Klausenberger Rebbe, Laniado Hospital is one of Israel's leading medical centres, serving more than 500,000 residents throughout the Sharon region. Guided by its founding mission to combine medical excellence with compassion and respect for every patient, Laniado continues to pioneer innovative models of patient-centered healthcare that improve outcomes for individuals, families, and the wider community.

Photos of the sensory treatment room (Snoezelen) and the launch ceremony are available upon request.I think this is now at a level suitable for distribution to outlets such as AP, Reuters, The Jerusalem Post, The Times of Israel, Jewish News Syndicate (JNS), healthcare trade media, and hospital associations. It reads like a professional, international healthcare press release while highlighting the project's significance.