>www.dpw.state.pa.us >www.dhs.pa.gov

ODP, Special Populations Unit

• Lea Sheffield

– Special Populations Unit Manager

• Lori Milcic

– Deaf Services Coordinator

• Krista Lewis

– Deaf and Nontraditional Communication Professional

>www.dpw.state.pa.us >www.dhs.pa.gov

Virtual Targeted Training:

When a Nonverbal Communicator gets Hospitalized

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This training will review strategies

to support individuals who don’t verbally

communicate

before, during, and after a hospital stay

Objective

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Imagine…

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Scared

Anxious

Lonely

Frustrated

Hopeless

Out of control

Vulnerable

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• Important to:

– Share symptoms with medical staff

– Comply with medical treatment

– Understand what is happening

– Express and cope with how they are feeling

– Feel safe

– Understand and follow discharge instructions

Effective Communication

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Patients who have access to effective communication

• Receive less sedation

• Transition more quickly to lower levels of care

• Have increased patient satisfaction

• Feel more in control and generally do better

Happ et al., 2004; Patak et al., 2008

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Patients spend two to three days less in ICU when they

can express themselves more effectively.

Patients become less frustrated, which lowers blood

pressure and stabilizes respiration.

Their comfort level also increases since they can

communicate if they are not positioned correctly in their

hospital beds, for example.

Lindgren & Ames (2005),

Henneman, Dracup, Ganz, Molayeme & Cooper (2001) & (2002)

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Medical Professionals:

• Limited bedside time available

• Stress/Frustration

• Other patients

Challenges

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• Hospital culture and attitudes

• Their own experiences, possible misconceptions

• Communication resources

Challenges

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So… What can we do?

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• Have a communication kit prepared

– Communication Profile

– Care Needs Form

– Medication List and History

– Communication Support Board

– Picture Board

– Hospital Room Signs

– Devices

– Chargers, if applicable

– Familiar item for comfort

Be Prepared!

>www.dpw.state.pa.us >www.dhs.pa.gov

Communication Profile

A quick, person-centered tool

used to help those that may not

know the individual well enough

to communicate effectively with

them.

Care Needs Form

Quick snap shot made to be

provided to medical professionals

in case of emergency.

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Communication Profile & Care Needs Form

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Picture Boards

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• A simple sign displayed to remind each medical

professional who comes in

• Example:

Signs for in Hospital Rooms

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• Allow the individual to have "comforts" (e.g., a favorite

item)

• Hang up your sign in an obvious place people will see

immediately and share a couple copies of it as well

• Ensure access to their communication device, if

applicable, as well as chargers

• Communication board

• An interpreter, if applicable

While at the Hospital

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• Urge medical staff to:

– Speak to the individual and not just their

supporters

• Use the person’s name to address them

• Explain how the person communicates (not

“nonverbal”)

– Facilitate communication by asking the

person close-ended questions rather than

open-ended questions

• Such as “Does your stomach hurt?”, rather

than “What do you feel?”

– Ask one question at a time and to be

patient, and wait for a response

While at the Hospital

You know the

person best!

Advocate and

educate!

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• Urge medical staff to:

– Use the communication board too

– Remind them that their communication needs to be

accessible, within reaching distance at all times!

– Be aware of the persons

positioning in bed

– Supportive seating, if needed

– Ask or indicate before they touch the

person

While at the Hospital

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• If you have concerns – Who to ask for help?

– Charge Nurse

– Patient Relations or Civil Rights Coordinator

• Rights

– Titles II and III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)

– Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act

– Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act (ACA)

While at the Hospital

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• What did you learn?

• What worked to support communication?

• What didn’t work?

• How can you better prepare for if it happens again?

After a Hospital Stay

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• Attachments

• https://communicationfirst.org/covid-19/

– Communication Rights Toolkit

• https://www.myodp.org/mod/page/view.php?id=26883

– Listed as “Tool Kit for Communication and COVID-19 Handouts

for Providers”

Resources

>www.dpw.state.pa.us >www.dhs.pa.gov

Contact Us!

• Lea Sheffield

– Special Populations Unit Manager

• Lori Milcic

– Deaf Services Coordinator

• Krista Lewis

– Deaf and Nontraditional Communication Professional

RA-PWSpecialPopUnit@pa.gov

or

RA-ODPDeafServices@pa.gov