Patients are often too weak to be able to write and trying to mouth words to get their message across frequently leads to misunderstanding, and can be incredibly frustrating for patients, relatives and staff.
That’s why Dr Tim Baker, speciality registrar on the ICU at Addenbrooke’s has invented an iPad app – MyICUVoice. Originally a symptom survey tool and a data collection device, a £40,000 development grant from Addenbrooke’s Charitable Trust, has helped enhance MyICUVoice so it now also works as a communication interface between patients, their families and staff.
Intensive care patients who cannot speak can now tell others how they are feeling.
Dr Vilas Navapurkar, Consultant in Intensive Care Medicine at Addenbrooke’s, said: “The inability to communicate when critically ill is extremely traumatic and for 1 in 5 patients it can be a contributing factor of post-traumatic stress disorder. The development of the MyICUvoice app helps the team on the Addenbrooke’s ICU with a crucial aspect of care quality … hearing the patient’s side of the story.”
Karen Goodall’s mum Sue Milne was treated on the ICU. Karen said: “My mum Sue was admitted to the ICU following routine elective surgery. It was a very difficult time for the whole family, so being able to communicate with mum through the MyICUvoice app was so important. She pointed to the icon indicating she was scared and anxious, which was a powerful moment. Then we knew how we could help her. It is really positive that the John Farman ICU is addressing the psychological needs of its patients and their relatives, and it’s fantastic that this is being supported through the Addenbrooke’s charity.”
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