Hospital For Special Care Autism Center

 The Hospital for Special Care developed a first-of-its-kind Partial Hospital Program serving children and adolescents diagnosed with ASD, as well as their families. This new inpatient unit provides single-patient rooms, in a care environment programmed by clinical staff to meet children’s needs, and maximize opportunities for parent education and training – a key component to success in the community. The Partial Hospital Program provides the first step-up and step-down level of care, an entirely new option in care to help bridge difficult transitions, divert inpatient stays and maximize continuity in care. 

Recognized as a regional and national leader in autism care, HFSC’s 12-bed inpatient unit is one of only 11 in the country providing both medical and behavioral health care simultaneously. The inpatient area is supported by nursing stations, program, team and conference rooms, community rooms, exam room, staff locker rooms, and offices. 

Complementing the inpatient unit is the outpatient center, the only program of its type to achieve designation by the national Committee for Quality Assurance as a Patient Centered Specialty Practice. The expanded program capacity will allow HFSC to address critical gaps in services in Connecticut that often leave children waiting in emergency departments. 

These complementary programs serve 130 children annually. The new facility provides a “Therapeutic milieu” or a therapeutic community space with appropriate activity areas to support patient behavior plans, unit activities and family visits. The Family Learning Center supports family visits and group skills training. A separate behavioral analysis observation room allows for observation of the therapeutic spaces and individual patient rooms, with Clinician offices embedded within the same area to maximize safety and oversight. 

A short connector links the new addition to the main building and a dedicated visitor entrance Is accessed through a new traffic circle with dedicated parking. 

Downes Construction has built the entirety of the HFSC campus from its inception, starting in 1941 with additions and renovations in 1960, 1993, 2001, and 2010. Downes is proud to be a partner with this special institution providing unparalleled care to the community.