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Trend: Hospitals use picture boards to communicate
Hospitals are beginning to use picture boards with non-English speakers to help them make themselves understood. The boards are no substitute for trained translators, of course, but they can help staff collect basic information from patients until a translator can be found. The panels include not only clinical images--suggesting, say pain or a fall--but also may offer a list of languages that the patient can choose from to indicate which they speak.
Increasingly, health leaders are realizing that such boards are an important tool. In New Jersey, for example, the head of the health department is working with the state's hospital association to distribute thousands of the boards. They're passing along the boards not only to hospitals, but also rescue squads and public health clinics. The boards' use is also backed by HHS, which is rolling out a program designed to help hospitals assess and meet patients' communication needs.
To learn more about this trend:
- read this USA Today article
Related Articles:
Case study: Nurses offer cross-language care. Report
NY to require skilled translators. Report
Hospital attracts business by providing medical translators. Report
Study: Pediatricians use family, not translators. Report
Comments
By Michael Hoey | Posted 1:39pm | July 12, 2008
Our company has been providing free of charge our picture boards and communication kits to selected hospitals who provide inpatient or outpatient Speech-Language services. Facilities with limited or no access to communication boards for patients in ICU or CCU should feel free to contact us for donated items. Events leading up to a family member having an extended stay at a Chicago hospital several years ago is the reason that our company has donated to over fifty hospitals since April, 2008. We feel that communication for the patient is critical to the recovery process.
All hospitals qualify for our limited free promotion. Please leave your name or department and an address and we will send you a package containing (1) Illustrated board and (1) Communication Kit ( picture board, dry erase with marker, and stickers to customize ) to try. We also are willing to work with you to provide other items at your request as an extra measure for the well being of your patients.
You may view our products at www.commkitt.com. You are free to keep the boards and are under no obligation to buy. There is no charge for shipping. Please write back or call if you are interested.
Michael Hoey CommKittCommunication Aids mthoey63@yahoo.com
(630)290-9108
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