Healthcare

• Ensure all front line staff and healthcare providers have policies and training for effective communication with patients who have pre-existing and acquired speech, language, communication and/or cognitive disabilities.
• Identify and record a patient’s communication support needs.
• Identify the support person that the patient authorizes to assist with communication, and/or decisions and ensure they have access to the support person at all times.
• Ensure the patient has access to communication tools they use or need at all times.
• Use best communication practices to support a patient in one or more areas of understanding, problem solving, decision-making and/or expressive communication.
• Hear and acknowledge the patient’s questions, concerns, opinions and decisions.
• Engage a Speech-Language Pathologist if:
  • Patient has no reliable way to communicate
  • Patient’s capacity is questionable
  • There is evidence of a conflict of interest, undue persuasion or coercion from support person(s)
  • The authenticity of the individual’s communication is questionable
  • It is a high-risk situation, such as medical assistance in dying.
• Document how communication supports were provided and how decisions were made.