FAQ’s
Frequently Asked Questions
MedConcerns is a communication support app designed to help people with aphasia and other communication challenges express medical concerns clearly. It guides the conversation with simple visuals, touch-to-speak icons, and supportive prompts so that everyone can participate in care.
MedConcerns is for anyone who faces communication barriers when talking about health—such as people with aphasia, apraxia, dysarthria, dementia, or voice disorders—and for the healthcare staff who need to understand them.
MedConcerns follows the natural flow of a medical conversation. It begins with an introduction screen where the healthcare provider can type their name and job title. Next, it offers simple responses to the general question “How are you?” before moving to the concerns screen that presents a menu of possible responses to the question “What seems to be bothering you today?” The app then guides the user through follow-up questions with clear choices, and creates a summary screen that pulls everything together. Visuals, spoken words, text, and verification screens are built into each step to support both understanding and expression.
No training is required to use the communication supports built into the app. MedConcerns is designed to be intuitive and ready to use at the bedside—healthcare staff can open it and immediately begin supporting communication. That said, some individuals may also experience barriers such as visual challenges, cognitive difficulties, or motor limitations. Some may benefit from changing the number of icons per screen in settings, or help from the care team may be required. The MedConcerns team is here and can be reached at info@communicationrescue.com to assist.
Yes. Options on each screen can be reduced to as few as 1–2 choices for people who benefit from simpler displays. 1 icon per screen will support individuals who require yes/no response options rather than a field of choices.
Most communication boards rely on someone trained in supportive communication to use them effectively. MedConcerns builds supportive communication strategies directly into the flow—automatically guiding staff step by step so that information is gathered clearly and consistently.
Yes. When verbal communication or comprehension is difficult, clear icons and simple text are more universally understood, no matter the cause of the barrier. While MedConcerns was created with aphasia in mind, it can also support communication for people with dementia, apraxia, dysarthria, hearing impairment, and voice disorders. It can even be helpful for non-native English speakers as a supplement to interpreter services.
Absolutely. MedConcerns gives nurses, aides, and doctors tools to support communication on their own, so people with communication barriers can participate in care at any time.
Yes. MedConcerns is available in English and Spanish. More languages to come as we continue to update.
Facilities can purchase bulk licenses so that staff on each unit have access. MedConcerns is designed for flexible licensing—whether for one team, a department, or an entire hospital system. Contact us at info@communicationrescue.com for more information.
Aphasia
Aphasia is a language disorder that affects a person’s ability to communicate. It often results from damage to parts of the brain responsible for language, typically due to a stroke or other brain injury.
Aphasia-friendly communication techniques involve simplifying language, using pictures or icons, speaking slowly, and ensuring the person with aphasia feels supported in expressing themselves.
Communicating with aphasia can be challenging, especially in healthcare settings. People with aphasia are at a higher risk (3x) of adverse healthcare events due to communication difficulties.
People with aphasia often face barriers that limit their participation in healthcare, leading to difficulties in receiving proper diagnoses and treatments, which impacts healthcare equality.
Healthcare professionals often face challenges when communicating with people with aphasia. They may not know how to help effectively, limit conversations, and express a desire to improve these interactions but lack adequate tools or training.
MedConcerns is an app designed to support people with aphasia in medical settings. It uses pictorial icons, recorded, and written text to facilitate better communication between healthcare providers and individuals with aphasia. It aims to improve understanding, reduce barriers, and ensure effective patient-provider communication.
Equity in healthcare means providing the necessary supports to ensure all patients can communicate effectively. With aphasia, communication barriers can be removed through appropriate supports, improving autonomy and independence for those affected.
To address the communication challenges, we created MedConcerns, an app with built-in communication supports. It allows users with aphasia to describe their medical concerns as effectively as someone without communication challenges, ensuring a more equitable healthcare experience.
