Ask the Expert

In each publication of Risk Review, an outside guest or a member of our team of expert risk management and loss prevention consultants will answer a question from a reader. If you are concerned about a risk management or safety issue at your practice or facility, let us know and we may answer it in a future issue.

Experts: Gary E. Eddey, MD (right) and Kenneth L. Robey, PhD, both of the Matheny Medical and Educational Center in Peapack, NJ

Question: How can I communicate with a patient who has severe cerebral palsy or a similar condition which hinders the patient’s ability to speak?

Answer: Many healthcare providers are unsure how to communicate with their non-verbal patients. As a result, patients with a neurological disorder and who are non-verbal are commonly ignored or dismissed as being unable to communicate. Considering the risk implications of poor communications with any patient, the importance of this question cannot be overstated. Misunderstanding the abilities of communication in our non-verbal patients can lead to misdiagnosis, mismanaged patient/family expectations, poor treatment decisions and other errors, and even violation of patient rights issues.

The Issue