People with communication disabilities are often left behind by healthcare systems that aren’t designed for them.
Professor Robyn O’Halloran and her team at the Centre for Research Excellence in Aphasia Recovery and Rehabilitation are working to change that.
“People with communication disabilities are at greater risk of poorer healthcare experiences and outcomes,” she explains. “This is often not because of their condition, but because systems, processes and environments often fail to support effective communication.”
To address this, the team has developed practical tools to help healthcare professionals better identify and respond to patients’ communication needs.
A key innovation is a quick screening tool that enables nurses to identify patients who need communication support early in their hospital admission.
Using this tool, the team found that between 40 and 55 per cent of patients in general medical wards need communication support.
“We have also developed an interview tool to help speech pathologists identify the specific strategies and supports individual patients need, along with an audit tool to assess whether ward-level systems and resources are in place to support this work.”
Professor O’Halloran is currently working in partnership with Monash University and Victorian health services to evaluate the implementation of Disability Liaison Officers in emergency departments, to improve care for people with communication disabilities, including people with intellectual disabilities.
“We are also working with Western Health and the Pharmaceutical Society of Australia to co-develop resources for pharmacists, helping them have better conversations with patients about their medicines and reduce medication-related harm."
