Cardmedic
A free digital tool to communicate vital information to COVID-19 patients
CARDMEDIC is a free digital communication tool to improve transfer of vital information through the PPE barrier to unwell and critically ill patients in the COVID-19 pandemic. An A-Z compendium of topics designed in a simple succinct flashcard style, it also provides training for healthcare professionals and volunteers working outside their usual realms of practice. CARDMEDIC was inspired by a news article on a patient surviving COVID-19 after an admission to a UK Intensive Care Unit, where he described feeling terrified of not being able to understand what his healthcare providers were saying, due to the limitations of communicating through Personal Protective Equipment (face masks etc). They flashcards are simple and succinct, using basic language to share information and describe the plan of action. The cards can be used in electronic format on the patient’s or hospital’s phone/tablet/smart device, or printed, laminated, annotated and re-used – write on, wipe off.