Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System (ICS) has made CardMedic, a communications app to support patients who face a communication barrier, available across its health and care services.
The app supports healthcare professionals communicate with patients and has been introduced across the ICS to help tackle health inequalities.
Developed by NHS anaesthetist Rachael Grimaldi during her maternity leave, the app was created to help healthcare teams communicate with patients through online flashcards, to guide patients through common clinical interactions.
The ICS stated that more than “35 percent of people have additional communication needs, which can be due to language, visual or hearing impairment, cognitive impairment, literacy, or other reasons. Communication barriers can contribute to healthcare inequalities, which the newly-formed ICS aims to tackle.”
“Communication is the first key barrier to health equity and, until you solve that, you can’t move forwards,” says Sarah Haines, Head of Patient Experience and Engagement for Mid and South Essex NHS Foundation Trust.
“Our medical colleagues in the Intensive Care Unit and elsewhere have been excited about using CardMedic, especially the British Sign Language and easy-read options. I’ve been blown away by the potential that CardMedic holds to improve patient experience and safety. It provides people who have struggled to fully participate in their care to be involved in shared decision making with clinicians. Working at ICS level means we can improve communication across multiple settings, enabling more and more people to access the standards of care that they deserve.”
Dr Sophia Morris, System Clinical Lead for Inequalities, Mid and South Essex Integrated Care System, added: “Being able to ensure all our residents can experience equity of access to healthcare is at the heart of narrowing the gap in health and care inequalities in mid and south Essex. This app will ensure that those who need help communicating and accessing essential services can feel more confident of getting the help and care they need.”
The app includes a library of nearly 800 pre-written scripts, replicating conversations between healthcare staff and patients on healthcare topics ranging from obstetrics and maternity to end-of-life care and emergency situations.
