Milford Regional Laboratory Gains "Autism Welcoming" Recognition

April 27 “No Needle” Event Aims to Make Future Lab Visits Easier for Patients with Autism

Following comprehensive sensory-responsive and autism-inclusive training this spring, Milford Regional Medical Center’s Phlebotomy Program is now designated as “Autism Welcoming” by the Autism Alliance.

Milford Regional’s phlebotomists received the training in March and will be holding a “no-needle” blood draw event on Saturday, April 27 to familiarize patients with autism and their families/caregivers to make for less challenging future visits to the laboratory to have blood drawn or for other purposes. The laboratory is the latest service line to receive this certification, as the Milford Regional Emergency Department was first certified in 2021.

“We are now even more equipped to create a less challenging laboratory experience for our patients with autism and their family members,” said Matthew Fortin, laboratory support manager at Milford Regional. 

The free event will take place in the outpatient laboratory in the Hill Health Center in the main hospital location at 14 Prospect Street in Milford. Appointments (30 min.) are now being scheduled between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. on April 27 by calling 508.422.2088. Those families interested in participating are required to make an appointment in advance.

Milford Regional Medical Center is a full-service, community and regional teaching hospital located in Milford, Mass. and serves patients from more than 20 towns in Central Massachusetts. The 148-bed medical center is a nonprofit, acute-care facility, where more than 300 primary care and specialty physicians are committed to providing exceptional healthcare services to our community with dignity, compassion and respect.