CARDMEDIC, founded by NHS anaesthetist Dr Rachael
Grimaldi while on maternity leave, launched at the
beginning of April and is already available in 10
languages. Dr Grimaldi was inspired by a news article
about a COVID-19 patient who was admitted to intensive
care and became worried when he couldn’t understand
what his healthcare providers were saying through their
face masks, visors and hoods.
The communication aids can be used in electronic format
on the patient’s or hospital’s phone, tablet, smart
device or desktop. As well as the visual aspects
helping to communicate with deaf and hard of hearing
patients, CARDMEDIC also includes a “read aloud” option
for patients who are either too unwell or unable to
read, or those partially sighted or blind.
The communication flashcards are free to download on
CARDMEDIC’s website, which has seen more than 7,800
users in 49 countries across 6 continents since its
launch on 1 April 2020. Going from concept to launch in
just 72 hours, CARDMEDIC is now being used by NHS
Trusts all over the UK and frontline hospital staff
across Africa, Asia, Australia, Canada, Europe, New
Zealand and the United States.
Dr Rachael Grimaldi at CARDMEDIC said:
Unable to be patient-facing during the COVID-19
pandemic, I was desperate to do something to help
while on maternity leave. What started out as me
wondering if healthcare staff could use a pen and
paper to communicate with patients, within 72 hours,
turned into an online A-Z index of digital
flashcards.
Initially, I thought I would share the site with
colleagues at Brighton and Sussex University
Hospitals NHS Trust, and it would hopefully help make
a difference to a few patients. I never envisaged it
would have grown so rapidly and at such pace. I am
overwhelmed by the generosity in time and expertise
from so many organisations, colleagues, friends and
family.
Our trade advisor from the Department for
International Trade has been fantastic and introduced
me to a wide range of business contacts which has
helped enormously.
The Department for International Trade has supported
CARDMEDIC since its launch date by connecting Dr
Grimaldi with local businesses in Brighton including
digital consultancy Grow Global which provided a free
website review. CARDMEDIC’s dedicated trade advisor
also provided the business with advice to apply for the
Innovate UK competition to receive funding.
International Trade Secretary said:
CARDMEDIC is one of the many businesses working hard
to support our NHS at a crucial time, and I am proud
to see them already making a global impact and
helping save lives”.
This is a truly innovative product that could change
the future of the healthcare industry and be widely
applied across the world long after the pandemic.
CARDMEDIC is now set to provide its flashcards in 30
different languages in the coming weeks, and is
currently working with a hospital in Australia to
translate them into African, Asian and European
dialects.
The business is also developing an app which will
include illustrations and videos for British Sign
Language, as well as creating downloadable PDF versions
for healthcare professionals to print, laminate, write
on, wipe off and reuse.
