Wednesday, August 20, 2008

Latest Addition to the Point to Communicate System

Crucial Communications announced today the addition of a new Point to Communicate booklet specifically developed for hospitals and medical centers. The response to this newest booklet has been exciting. Intensive care units, rehabilitation units as well as the speech pathologists at Cheshire Medical Center in Nashua, NH, Cooley Dickenson Hospital in Northampton, MA, Togas Veteran Medical Center in Augusta, ME , and many other institutions have responded positively with statements like:

“This booklet is so comprehensive and yet so simple to use.”

“The booklet will make such a difference for my patients in ICU. It will save me so much time communicating with them and it will make my job a lot easier.”

“I have a patient who will love this. He’s been so frustrated and now he’ll be able to communicate. Thank you. This is a great product.”

The Point to Communicate booklets use a system of easily identifiable icons to assist those who cannot speak nor write to indicate essential needs involving physical, emotional, and environmental needs, pain ratio, location of pain, information about emergency contacts, home and ambulatory issues and much more.

Arlene Disbrow, developer of the Point to Communicate system, also has booklets available for Home Health and Nursing Home residents and staff.

Monday, July 14, 2008

My Friend Dolly

Last year, July and August of 2007 were a blur of activity as I was just receiving the first of the printed booklets called 'Point to Communicate'.

A very dear friend of mine called me late August with an urgent request. Her friend, Dolly, who had severe stroke and could not speak. My friend wanted to purchase a booklet to give to Dolly who would never speak again. I quickly drove over to her house to deliver the booklet.
A week later, my friend told me what a success the booklet was for Dolly. Soon, I began to hear this same phrase from other friends of Dolly.
In March, I went to see her. Dolly is highly motivated to communicate with anyone who will engage with her. I am so delighted to have spent time with her and call her my friend. She was so grateful to have the booklet. It changed her life by returning her communication skills which gave her control over her physical well being, showed her mental acumen, her compassion, and her wonderful sense of humor.