CLEARWATER, FL, UNITED STATES, June 25, 2025 /EINPresswire.com/ — Emergency Room (ER) visitation rates are significantly more frequent among adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD). A new study, published by the University of Florida College of Medicine, found that enrolling adults with disabilities in specialized care programs significantly decreased the need for emergency care services.

Published on April 3, 2025, the study tracks how specialized care programs, specifically the Program for Adults With Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities (PAIDD), impact the rate of ER visits for people with IDD. Those enrolled in PAIDD saw a statistically significant decrease in ER visits compared to adults with IDD who received care outside the program.

People with IDD are at higher risk of severe health complications due to comorbidities, including aspiration, bowel obstruction, seizures, dehydration, and sepsis. Disabled adults suffering from these conditions face disproportionately higher mortality rates compared to those without disabilities.

“When adults with intellectual and developmental disabilities have access to clinicians trained in IDD-related health risk identification and mitigation, health issues are identified and treated early, helping to prevent serious complications and significantly reducing the need for emergency room visits,” said Dr. Craig Escudé, President of IntellectAbility and a family physician with extensive experience in providing healthcare for people with IDD.

IntellectAbility provides tools and training to agencies, governmental entities, and supporters of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to foster early recognition and mitigation of health risks, thereby improving health and wellness.

States are increasingly turning to managed care organizations (MCOs) to improve both the cost and quality of care. MCOs work with a network of providers to manage their members’ long-term healthcare services and supports. With rising enrollment by individuals with IDD, MCOs are recognizing the need for enhanced provider education to support improved health outcomes and quality of life. IntellectAbility is partnering with leading MCOs to deliver specialized training that equips providers to identify early signs of health destabilization.

According to a survey conducted by Harvard Medical School, only 40.7% of physicians rated themselves as feeling “very confident” in their ability to provide equitable care to patients with disabilities], and just 56.5% strongly agreed [they welcomed patients with disabilities into their practices. In response to this gap, IntellectAbility has collaborated with managed care organizations to support provider training. Among them are health plans affiliated with Elevance Health, which have taken proactive steps to elevate provider education and improve care quality. IntellectAbility values the opportunity to support organizations like Elevance Health in their efforts to strengthen care for individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

“Specialized training equips providers with the knowledge and confidence they need to recognize and address the unique health needs of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities—improving outcomes, building trust, and ultimately saving lives,” states Dr. Escudé. “When Managed Care Organizations, like Elevance Health affiliated plans, invest in training their provider networks, they become essential partners in reducing avoidable emergency room visits and promoting proactive, person-centered care.”

IntellectAbility provides tools and training to agencies, governmental entities, and supporters of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to foster early recognition and mitigation of health risks, thereby improving health and wellness. One such tool is the Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST), of which they are the sole developer, producer, and distributor. The web-based HRST is the most widely used and validated health risk screening instrument for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. IntellectAbility also provides numerous health-related and person-centered service training for supporters of people with IDD. With an unrelenting focus, IntellectAbility works to fulfill its mission of improving health and quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other at-risk populations.

Specialized training and tools are required to improve emotional well-being and the overall health of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

According to the study, emotional well-being has been connected to positive social, emotional, behavioral, and health outcomes for people with intellectual disabilities. Those with higher levels of emotional well-being are more likely to participate in fulfilling activities, cultivate meaningful relationships, and have stronger feelings of inclusion. Emotional well-being may also encourage resilience. (1)

While emotional well-being is an integral part of improving overall physical and mental health, the available tools and metrics are typically developed for people without disabilities. Individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) who experience higher mortality rates than non-disabled individuals continue to suffer disproportionately from unrecognized and underdiagnosed emotional distress.

People living with IDD express emotional well-being differently than those without disabilities. For example, many people with IDD do not use words to communicate, which makes it difficult to simply ask, “How are you feeling?” As a result, physicians and supporters must develop more customized parameters to examine signs of emotional instability.

“For people with IDD, early signs of emotional distress may appear as a prolonged change in a person’s demeanor, significant changes in behavior, or a notable change in a person’s baseline level of interaction with others,” states Dr. Craig Escudé, President of IntellectAbility. “Being attuned to identifying these changes is essential for family members and supporters to recognize and report these changes so that interventions can be implemented early.”

IntellectAbility provides tools and training to agencies, governmental entities, and supporters of people with IDD to foster early recognition and mitigation of health risks. By providing person-centered training, IntellectAbility helps caregivers and physicians empower people with IDD to live healthier, more fulfilling lives.

Emotional distress can lead to serious and often deadly health issues for people with IDD. “It’s known that emotional stressors can lead to increased risk for heart disease, poorer glucose control for people with diabetes, and early death. Stress also can worsen the risks for obesity, Alzheimer’s disease, depression, and gastrointestinal problems,” states Dr. Escudé.

For many people with IDD, signs of stress are exhibited by changes in behavior. IntellectAbility developed the Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST) to better assess health destabilization in people with IDD. The tool looks at 22 specific areas of risk, including five that specifically relate to behavior: self-abuse, aggression, the need for physical behavior support, chemical behavior support, and the use of psychotropic medications.

Dr. Escudé notes, “One’s overall emotional state heavily influences their overall quality of life. For people with IDD who are already subject to social isolation, higher rates of mental health issues, and increased numbers of chronic diseases, implementing interventions to improve overall emotional well-being is exceedingly important. And, it starts with having an effective way to screen for it.”

IntellectAbility provides tools and training to agencies, governmental entities, and supporters of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities to foster early recognition and mitigation of health risks, thereby improving health and wellness. One such tool is the Health Risk Screening Tool (HRST), of which they are the sole developer, producer, and distributor. The web-based HRST is the most widely used and validated health risk screening instrument for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. IntellectAbility also provides numerous health-related and person-centered service training for supporters of people with IDD. With an unrelenting focus, IntellectAbility works to fulfill its mission of improving health and quality of life for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and other at-risk populations. For more information, visit www.ReplacingRisk.com

Sources:

1. https://today.uconn.edu/2025/03/new-study-finds-gap-in-tools-assessing-emotional-well-being-in-individuals-with-intellectual-disabilities/

In Missouri, one in every seven households is left hungry. United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Economic Research Service found that nearly one-third of American households with a disabled adult family member experience low food security. Dr. Craig Escude, a family physician and specialist in intellectually and developmentally disabled individuals reported an increased likelihood of these factors in Missouri.

“Around a million people in Missouri are affected by food insecurity. The recently released study showed that people with a family member with a disability, that includes those with intellectual and developmental disabilities have about a three times higher risk of experiencing food insecurity,” said Escude.

The inability of disabled individuals and caregivers to maintain steady income as well as medical expenses are factors that directly contribute to the increased risk of food insecurity.

“I have cerebral palsy I’ve had that my whole life, and I’ve had to fight my way through probably harder than everyone else,” said Duane Gruis, an advocate and family navigator for disability service organization, UCP Heartland.

Wednesday brought several other advocates for this cause to the Capitol Rotunda in honor of Disability Rights Legislative Day.