When focusing on a patient with compromised communication ability, it's important to assess their surroundings from their perspective. If family members or loved ones aren't frequently present, consider providing tools to help the patient communicate with the outside world.
Mobility Limitations
If your patient can talk, is the phone within reach? Do they need help dialing? Can they read from a contact list or address book? If not, consider offering a speakerphone or another phone option to facilitate communication.
Hearing/Speech Limitations
If your patient can't speak, ask if they would like someone to assist by holding the phone to their ear or facilitating communication. Ensure that TTY phones are available for deaf patients, and provide Braille devices for blind patients.
Check with your office's department responsible for assisting patients with hearing or visual impairments to ensure access to necessary communication tools.
Enhancing Communication for Special Needs
For patients who can't speak, providing internet access can be a game-changer, allowing them to email, text, or have someone type messages on their behalf. If your facility doesn’t offer internet, a smartphone can be used to send emergency messages to loved ones.
Patients with temporary impairments, such as a broken jaw, should be encouraged to use internet access or mobile phones to communicate with family or friends when face-to-face communication isn't possible.
Family Communication Tools
For seriously ill pediatric or adult patients, CarePages—a service designed to keep families updated—can be a valuable resource for sharing information with large groups of loved ones without the need for constant individual emails.
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