Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation uses state of the art assistive technology devices to enhance patient communication

TIFTON, Ga. – The Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation has enriched the healthcare landscape by generously donating two assistive technology devices to Tift Regional Medical Center.

The Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation has recently contributed two Tobii Dynavox assistive technology devices to both the Tift Regional Medical Center and the Inpatient Speech Therapy Department. These devices play a crucial role in facilitating communication for individuals facing challenges such as a stroke, ventilator dependence, or other factors hindering effective communication.

“We’re so grateful that the Tift Regional Medical Center Foundation donated two assistive technology devices. These devices are made by Tobii Dynavox. They are assistive technology devices about the size of an iPad that helps our patients to communicate their wants and needs,” said Rebekah Cottle, Southwell Speech Language Pathologist.

Rebekah Cottle, a Speech Language Pathologist at Southwell, offers a comprehensive perspective on needs met by the assistive technology devices, highlighting the transformative technology employed to assist patients.

“We are faced daily with patients who have trouble communicating, whether it’s a patient who’s had a recent stroke or a neurodegenerative condition or even a patient in the ICU who’s awake on a ventilator, who’s unable to communicate their wants and needs or even talk with family. Prior to this, donations, our patients were limited on how they could communicate. So, this meant we may ask them only yes or no questions. Or, we provided a paper poster board with limited icons and symbols they could communicate or sometimes they would attempt to write. And these methods were helpful, but there was still a big gap for these patients on how they could communicate, and there might have been something else they wanted to tell us. Although these methods helped some of our patients, there is still a communication gap for others who had limited mobility or if they wanted to say something more. The patients are able to communicate a variety of formats, such as the icons or symbols. They’re able to write or use a keyboard. The device generates a voice that can be adapted to their age, their accent or gender that will provide that voice for them while they need it. One of my favorite features about this device is for eye gaze capability. A patient is able to use this entire device with just the use of their eyes. This has been a game changer for our patients who are unable to move their arms or have limited mobility from weakness,” said Cottle.

Rebekah Cottle articulates the profound, life changing impact experienced by patients in an aspect that we frequently take for granted.

“Since the purchase of these devices, I have witnessed patients being able to tell their loved ones how much they love them or to be able to ask for specific things that we would have never considered. We often take our communication for granted in these devices, have given a voice back to our patients. This helps reduce patient frustration, allows them to participate in their care and enhances the overall patient experience,” said Cottle.

De’Andra Jacobs reporting.

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