Healthcare Professional (noun):
a person who helps in identifying or preventing or treating illness or disability.
Healthcare Professionals, also referred to as Health Practitioners or Healthcare Providers, are individuals who provided preventive, curative or rehabilitative health care services to people, families or communities. A healthcare professional may also be a public or community expert working for the common good of the society. They don’t just work in hospitals, healthcare centers, private homes and other service delivery points, they also work in academic training, research and administration.
Healthcare Professionals include:
Healthcare professionals are devoted individuals who simply don’t have enough time. They are only able to devote a few minutes to share information with a patient and usually use a teach-back communication strategy (e.g. having the patient explain the instructions they have just heard) to check their comprehension. However, this verbal communication method would be more effective if paired with visual aids and strategies. Think of the airplane safety card – visual instructions designed for passengers to understand regardless of language ability or familiarity with air travel. Why not use similar visual aids and strategies for a medication schedule, daily routines, proper inhaler use, physical therapy exercises or self-care?
Barriers Affecting a Patient’s Ability to Comprehension
Often healthcare professionals may not be aware of factors affecting a patient’s ability to understand. For example:
✓ An elderly patient may hesitate to admit their hearing or vision is impeding comprehension.
✓ An individual who isn’t fluent in English might be embarrassed to ask for a translation or translator.
✓ A healthcare professional may be talking while wearing a mask.
✓ The patient may not be able to read or write. Illiteracy is a problem that is more widespread than many realize.
Due to stigma, these individuals may avoid sharing their difficulty with a healthcare professional. Even for patients with average literacy, medical information is difficult to understand.
Visual Aids and Strategies Improve Patient Communication and Care
Patients who cannot speak due to stroke, brain injury, autism, ventilators, intubation, neurological disorders or language barriers, experience greater stress and anxiety during their hospital stays. Visual aids and strategies improve communication between the patient and the healthcare professional. Research has found using communication boards with symbols, pictures, letters and numbers improved the patient’s overall recovery while reducing frustration.
Visual aids and strategies are beneficial during hospital stays, post-op, in the emergency room, ICU or doctor’s office. They provide the best care for their patients who cannot speak due to aphasia, stroke, dementia and other disorders that limit effective speech. They are also an excellent resource to use with patients who do not speak English.
12 Personal Topics for Communication Boards
Here are 12 suggested topics to consider when creating a communication board for a patient:
1. Feelings or emotional state
2. How they feel
3. What they need
4. What activities they would like to do
5. What they would like to eat
6. What they would like for a snack/drink
7. What they would like someone to know
8. What they may be worried about
9. What they may be wondering
10. Common words they might use
11. Their own words (blank so it can be personalized)
12. Words of encouragement
Join The Conversation
Are you a healthcare professional using a communication board or other visual aids and strategies to support a patient? What is the greatest challenge you face? Leave me a comment here, and join the conversation on Facebook where I asked, “The greatest challenge I’ve faced when supporting a patient with a communication barrier is_____________.”
Workshop Presentation - Visual Aids and Strategies for Healthcare Professionals
Contact Vizually Speaking today to learn how Visual Aids and Strategies for Healthcare Professionals can decrease the undesired behaviour(s), improve communication, promote independence and increase self-confidence. Through our dynamic presentation you will:
✓ Uncover the importance of using Visual Aids and Strategies.
✓ Discover the benefits of Visual Aids and Strategies.
✓ Learn how to overcome communication barriers.
✓ Promote independence and decrease undesired behaviours.
✓ Be introduced to NEW resources.
EVERYONE benefits from Visual Aids!
The options for visual aids and strategies in healthcare are endless, and we’re ready to help you get started. Vizually Speaking understands that finding time in today’s high demanding job to create visual aids and strategies can be a great challenge. We are committed to collaboratively work together providing a step by step support, assisting in the development and implementation of individualized visual aids and strategies. For a FREE consultation contact us today!
