Tips for Bedside Communication & Materials Preparation

COVID-19 patients may have difficulty understanding you when you are speaking through the protective masks. Here are some tips to remember and use:

• Get the patient's attention by touching their shoulder or arm and locking eyes.
• Speak loudly, slowly and distinctly.
• Establish a clear YES-NO signal (ex: head nod/shake; thumb up/closed fist; eyeblink/eye shut; look up/eyes shut)
• Post a sign so all providers know the YES-NO signal
• Speak in simple phrases – like a television announcer. Repeat important words.
• Use visuals while you talk:
  • Point and gesture.
  • Write key words or phrases with bullet points on a paper.
  • Point to pictures or phrases on a communication board while asking questions about needs or symptoms.

Here are some tips for printing and preparing the bedside communication boards:

Set-up Suggestions and Considerations
1. Select the desired board, download, and print
2. Laminate the board or place in a sheet protector - Each board is intended to be double-sided. - Make sure the instructions are on the back. - Instructions are clinician facing. - Boards are patient-facing.
3. Now you are ready to go! - Communication boards are designed for single patient use. The boards can be discarded when no longer needed or when the patient is discharged.

Here are some tips for other ways to support communication with your patient using writing/spelling:

• Consider using a dry erase board if a patient can hold a pen/marker to write. A lap tray or pillow under their arm may be helpful for positioning.