For a lot of Long Island families, an urgent care visit is the kind of trip that gets put off. Bright lights, a loud waiting room and a stranger asking questions can be a lot for a child or adult on the autism spectrum, and so the fever or the sprained ankle waits. Two more Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care centers on the Island, in Syosset and Yaphank, have just earned the Autism Friendly Designation from Autism Speaks, which means one less reason to wait.

Five new centers, eight in all

Northwell Health-GoHealth announced on October 8 that five centers earned the designation this round: Syosset and Yaphank on Long Island, Bulls Head on Staten Island, and Wappingers Falls and LaGrangeville in the Hudson Valley. They join the network's three pediatric centers in Lake Success, Elwood (East Northport) and Hewlett, which in 2024 became the first urgent care locations in the country to earn it. That brings the total to eight, and the new five see adults as well as children.

The designation was developed with autistic people, researchers and clinicians, and it is awarded to organizations that meet set standards for supporting autistic patients and their families. One of those standards is training: at least 80% of the staff who deal with the public have to complete a specialized Autism Speaks course. The company says the new centers went past that mark.

What is different when you walk in

The centers are being adapted for sensory needs, with quieter exam rooms, dimmable lighting, sensory kits and calmer programming on the televisions. The rest of the changes start before you leave home:

  • A care guide to read together. GoHealth publishes a visit guide that walks through what happens from arrival to discharge, so a child or adult can see it before it happens.
  • A card instead of an explanation at the desk. The My Care Card can be printed or saved to a phone and handed over at check-in, so accommodation needs are shared privately rather than out loud in the waiting room.
  • Check in online first. Saving a spot ahead of time gives the care team a chance to prepare and gets you in and out faster.

Why Syosset and Yaphank

The expansion was led by Dr. Gina Ruocchio, Clinical Manager of Pediatrics for Northwell Health-GoHealth Urgent Care. With staff across the state asking to take part, she chose where to start by looking at state Department of Education data for communities with higher numbers of students with autism and schools with special needs programs.

“As a mom of a child with unique medical needs, I understand how frustrating seeking medical care can be,” Dr. Ruocchio said. “Our goal is to provide accessible, comfortable care for families who may be hesitant to use urgent care, so everyone who walks through our doors feels safe, seen, and supported.”

Arianna Esposito, Vice President of Services and Supports at Autism Speaks, said urgent care visits “can be challenging for autistic people and their families when their unique communication and sensory differences aren't understood by medical providers,” and that she hopes the expansion inspires other providers to follow.

It is part of a wider shift on the Island. Last week, Glen Cove Hospital's emergency room earned the same designation.

The five Long Island centers

Hours vary by center, so check the center's page or call before you go. The care guide, the My Care Card and the full list of designated centers are on GoHealth's autism-friendly care page. Urgent care is for non-life-threatening illness and injury; for an emergency, call 911.