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An augmentative word communication board for the voice-disabled patient focussing on health care topics

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Winner of the 2009 New Products and Technology Silver Award, recognising innovative products serving older adults and families!

This evidence-based, patient communication board for adolescents and adults is supported by clinical research to improve patient satisfaction, reduce frustration, and improve patient outcomes. They are the perfect communication tool readily available as communication resources for persons who are rendered unable to speak.

Called the HealthCare Word Board, this light-weight, portable, non-electronic augmentative communication device offers a bridge between the caretaker and the nonverbal patient. The HealthCare Word Board features pre-printed text and images that the patient can point to, thus allowing a simple yet insightful form of augmentative communication. The verbally-disabled patient can quickly and easily express phrases that convey wants (“I want a pillow”), physical states (“I’m cold”), and instructions (“Brush my teeth”).

The back of the augmentative communication board holds a body chart to which the patient can point to any area in which they experience pain. Next to the chart lies a column of several words describing the type and degree of the pain. If the verbally-impaired patient needs to express more information, an area on the back of the augmentative communication board can be written on with non-toxic erasable markers.

Features and benefits

• Large, easy-to-read text
• “I Am” column to indicate state of being (I am short of breath, I am thirsty, I am afraid, I am in pain, I am unsure of what is happening, etc)
• “I Want” column to indicate wants and needs (I want to be suctioned, I want my family, I want a blanket, I want the lights on or off, etc)
• Pictures of the body which the patient can use to indicate needs in a certain area
• Colour-coded pain intensity levels from 0-10 to describe listed discomforts (itching, stings, cramps, can’t move, is numb, burns, is tender, etc)

The board also enables patients to thank their practitioner and carer. “Something that many of the patients testing the communication board requested specifically,” said Lance Patak, the inventor of the board.

The 43.2cm x 28cm (17” x 11”), two-sided, dry-erase boards which come individually shrink-wrapped with a dry-erase marker and marker holder. The Word Boards are available in a variety of languages and used in over 1,500 hospitals throughout the US and healthcare facilities in Canada, United Kingdom, Australia and India.

Related Products

• HealthCare Picture Communication Board

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Prices

	Code	Media	Platform	$NZ Price	$NZ GST
	HealthCare Word Communication Board - English
	DP15501	Resource		$50.00	$7.50