What do our users thinks?
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A relative's perspective
My mum Sue was admitted to the ICU following routine elective surgery. It was a very difficult time for the whole family, so being able to communicate with mum through the MyICUvoice app was so important. She pointed to the icon indicating she was scared and anxious, which was a powerful moment. Then we knew how we could help her. It is really positive that the John Farman ICU is addressing the psychological needs of its patients and their relatives... it’s fantastic." |
A letter from an ICU nurse
I have a really humbling experience I want to share with you. During my night shift we had a non clinical transfer from the Neuro Critical Care Unit; a gentleman in his 30's who had tried to take his own life. He was admitted to hospital a couple of weeks before with multiple injuries including severe facial fractures. Once he was trached and woken, he had no means of communication at all due to these facial fractures. On my shift following his transfer to our unit this patient was trying to communicate and had tried over and over but it just wasn’t working. My colleague had the idea to introduce him to myICUvoice. It took a lot of time and patience for him to relearn the keyboard, but using the keyboard he was able to communicate the following with myself: ‘I tried to take my own life, I want another chance. 1 big almighty boom but I survived no small gesture of thanks to you all. Please Help keep me alive’ |
A patient's perspective
This tool is amazing and needs to be in all ICU departments
I was admitted to the Intensive Care Unit for a rare blood condition, whereby my critical condition rapidly deteriorated leading me to have Atrial Fibrillation in my heart, ARDS, CMV among other life threatening conditions.
The decision was swiftly made to intubate me in order to allow the consultants to perform the procedures required to save my life. During this distressing time I could hear my family and Drs discussing my condition, health and recovery and was desperate to talk to them to communicate with them my feelings, pain levels and condition.
I initially tried several techniques such as an etch-a-sketch, writing using my fingers in someone’s palm and on the bed and even trying to mouth words around the intubation tube. However all were in vain and nobody could understand me, which was intensely worrying for me because I felt I couldn’t let them know how I was to enable the Drs to make informed decisions on my treatment.
One of the nurses then handed me the MyICU tablet which was without a doubt the most amazing, uplifting and motivating moment in those 6 and a half days of intubation. Using MyICU I was able to point to pictures to tell the Drs how I was feeling, I was able to type and have long conversations with my family and most importantly Drs could communicate with me my progress and future plan for treatment. Me and my family have tried and struggled to put into words how crucially important this tool was in not only my physical recovery but also all of our psychological well-being as it gave us an opportunity to share emotions and medical knowledge which undoubtedly had an immeasurable positive impact on my recovery and out of the critical life threatening situation I was in.
Without MyICU I honestly do not believe I would have recovered and been as mentally and physically strong as I was when I was extubated.
The decision was swiftly made to intubate me in order to allow the consultants to perform the procedures required to save my life. During this distressing time I could hear my family and Drs discussing my condition, health and recovery and was desperate to talk to them to communicate with them my feelings, pain levels and condition.
I initially tried several techniques such as an etch-a-sketch, writing using my fingers in someone’s palm and on the bed and even trying to mouth words around the intubation tube. However all were in vain and nobody could understand me, which was intensely worrying for me because I felt I couldn’t let them know how I was to enable the Drs to make informed decisions on my treatment.
One of the nurses then handed me the MyICU tablet which was without a doubt the most amazing, uplifting and motivating moment in those 6 and a half days of intubation. Using MyICU I was able to point to pictures to tell the Drs how I was feeling, I was able to type and have long conversations with my family and most importantly Drs could communicate with me my progress and future plan for treatment. Me and my family have tried and struggled to put into words how crucially important this tool was in not only my physical recovery but also all of our psychological well-being as it gave us an opportunity to share emotions and medical knowledge which undoubtedly had an immeasurable positive impact on my recovery and out of the critical life threatening situation I was in.
Without MyICU I honestly do not believe I would have recovered and been as mentally and physically strong as I was when I was extubated.