CardMedic

Midwife and digital health innovator Ruby Jackson is aware of the impact of the structural racism and unconscious bias that shapes the experiences of Black and Brown women in healthcare.      In a new blog, Ruby shares how our healthcare system often operates through a Eurocentric lens. White bodies and experiences are the default; less than 5% of medical textbook images depict conditions on Black or Brown skin.    Women can receive different treatment based on their skin colour, and the stress induced by experiencing bias and discrimination can have profound implications for both mother and baby.     Ruby calls for commitment and action on multiple fronts.  ✅ Education and training: Embed cultural competency and anti-racist practices from the start.  ✅ Practical tools: Tangible solutions such as the Melanatal app and CardMedic help the NHS improve equity and access.  ✅ Policy reform: Clear accountability measures can reduce racial disparities in maternal health outcomes.  ✅ Community support: Engaging organisations such as Black Maternity Matters, The Motherhood Group and Five X More can help build trust and awareness.  ✅ Representation: The healthcare provider workforce should reflect and understand the communities they serve.    Building trust requires action, not just words. Read Ruby's powerful blog to see what actions everyone can take.  https://lnkd.in/edNJPNh7   #MaternalHealth #HealthEquity #DiversityInHealthcare #DigitalHealth 

We're thrilled to be part of the upcoming digital consent and health inequalities demo day at University Hospitals Coventry and Warwickshire (UHCW) NHS Trust on 9th Dec! We will be showcasing our collaboration with Concentric Health and others on using digital tools to enhance health equality as part of a digital consent implementation.    Our work together sprung from a challenge to help ensure patients understand clinical procedures and enable two-way communication between patient and clinician to build confidence in the consent outcomes.    Come along on the day to see the results of work with a range of amazing partners! Sign up below. https://lnkd.in/e84Uqz7V  University of Warwick Eviden Remcare VirtTuri

Sometimes our clients and colleagues pretend to understand us because they don't want to lose face. How can you tell if this is happening during your conversation with a client whose first language isn't English? What should you do? Three tips from English Unlocked. #inclusionmatters

To self-manage health conditions, patient understanding is crucial. Yet for many, language barriers stand in the way of accessing and adhering to healthcare advice. Research into #asthma involving Dr Llinos Jones at Mid Yorkshire Teaching NHS Trust identified high prescribing rates for SABA inhalers in non-English-speaking communities, and improvements could be made. Language played an enormous role, with community members unaware of where to access help for asthma. Members also said they often felt excluded and under-represented in the health literature available to them. Dr Jones said: "With clear, relevant health management information, [community] members would feel more engaged and empowered to manage their own conditions in a more effective way”.   Thanks to the research, the community worked with healthcare providers to design a suite of multilingual resources that helped address the issue. We recognise that overcoming communication barriers can help often underserved communities access the healthcare available to all. With greater health literacy comes greater health equity. That's why we're working across the UK and abroad to provide clearer communication for all types of healthcare conversations, in over 50 languages and formats. https://lnkd.in/eJ74ag2h #Healthliteracy #healthequity Thanks to Health Innovation Yorkshire & Humber

🎉 Fantastic news! The Include Champions at The Include Project are finalists in the CharityComms Inspiring Communicator Awards in the Accessible Comms category. The nomination recognises their activity with accessible communication, including their work on developing an accessible version of the CardMedic app (which you can read about at the link below). Include Founder and CEO Alix Lewer and The Include Champions helped to develop an accessible version of the app, which helps break down barriers to good communication in healthcare.      Our partnership with Include has helped us refine our content to ensure it’s as accessible as possible to individuals with diverse needs, including those with learning differences, visual and hearing impairments, and language barriers.      Include promotes inclusion and wellbeing, empowers people with additional communication needs, and ensures equal access to services, facilities, and opportunities.    We wish The Include Champions all the best for the award, with winners announced on 4 December. 👍   https://lnkd.in/erwib7Jn

ICYMI: We're now on the G-Cloud 14 framework! G-Cloud-listed suppliers are accredited for cost-effectiveness, credibility and compliance, making procurement much simpler for public sector organisations. Drop us a line to find out more! 

📅 Join this essential discussion on #translation and #interpreting services in the NHS on 4 Dec.

Everyone should have equal access to healthcare, but communication barriers prevent many patients from getting the care they deserve, as this story in the East Anglia Daily Times reveals.  Language, hearing or speech difficulties can place patients in difficult situations where they miss critical medical information, which can result in some life-changing consequences. The story recalls:  ▶️ A d/Deaf patient missed vital information because a British Sign Language (BSL) interpreter wasn’t available. Without family support, they were left without understanding important health updates.  ▶️ A Polish-speaking patient in mental health care couldn’t always access a translator, raising serious concerns about her treatment. Richard Platt, chair of the Ipswich deaf Children’s society, explained: “Most of the time, we leave appointments with no idea what was said and therefore no awareness of the plans ahead.”  This situation is unacceptable, but as HEALTHWATCH SUFFOLK C.I.C. CEO Andy Yacoub says, “change is possible”.  Alongside the adjustments that Norfolk and Suffolk NHS Foundation Trust (NSFT) chief nurse Anthony Deery describes, CardMedic is an accessible healthcare solution that provides communication support in over 50 languages, including BSL formats. Clinically-validated content supports hundreds of healthcare interactions to help overcome communication barriers for all.  By supporting our NHS colleagues, we aim to help everyone receive safe and fair care, regardless of their communication needs. https://lnkd.in/eumubB_x #AccessibleHealthcare #HealthEquity #DigitalHealth 

Health literacy is a crucial but often overlooked driver of health outcomes and a major factor in tackling health inequalities. Promoting health literacy in communication makes healthcare more accessible, which improves treatment adherence, service access and patient outcomes.     Join this workshop on 13 Nov with health psychology expert Dr Mike Oliver, when the Personalised Care Institute will explore how organisations can foster health literacy through clear and effective communication.      https://lnkd.in/euCjxqg4 #HealthLiteracy

We're pleased to announce that CardMedic has been approved as a supplier on the G-Cloud 14 framework, making it easier than ever for UK healthcare organisations to procure our innovative digital communication tool.  The G-Cloud 14 framework simplifies procurement so NHS teams can quickly deploy CardMedic's versatile app through the Digital Marketplace. Initially designed to bridge language gaps, CardMedic has evolved to support British Sign Language (BSL), Easy Read, and Read Aloud options for diverse patient communication needs. “Being accepted onto G-Cloud is a great achievement for our team and a crucial step to scaling CardMedic’s innovative technology across the NHS,” said Tim Grimaldi, Co-founder and Director of CardMedic. “Successfully being listed on G-Cloud 14 is truly game-changing for CardMedic, as opportunities like this open infrequently for new businesses.”  Jack Porter, Co-Director of the NHS Innovation Accelerator, which supported the process, said: “Getting novel solutions like CardMedic approved clears an important path to scaling innovation across the NHS. We need to keep breaking down these barriers so impactful health tech can spread more easily to benefit patients nationwide.” We’re looking forward to helping more NHS trusts remove some of the barriers to effective healthcare communication and improve health equity for all. 💙 https://lnkd.in/ejXXMhhW #HealthcareInnovation #GCloud #DigitalHealth #CardMedic #HealthEquity