In these times of Covid where everyone is wearing a mask it can be difficult to connect with people or even recognise them. I think it must be very scary for patients with less medical literacy to receive care from masked providers, particularly the Indigenous, elderly and children.
The Kimberley Health Professionals Network and The Rural Clinical School of Western Australia have teamed up to supply face-badges to health professionals in the Kimberley who are required to wear a mask and other PPE. These would be in addition to current name tags and are a magnetised pleasant photos of staff so that patients and colleagues can know the face of the health-team member despite the mask. Our hope is that this will help patients to feel more connected to the people that are caring for/treating them. We are extremely grateful to the Stan Perron foundation for providing funding so we are able to provide these badges free of charge. Please support us in humanising healthcare!
If you are unsure about this have a look at the links below.
Here is a link to a study that found using portrait photo’s with smiling faces had a positive effect on how patients perceive healthcare staff – https://journals.plos.org/plosone/article?id=10.1371/journal.pone.0251445
And also a link to an article where Covid healthcare workers have done something similar – https://www.insider.com/coronavirus-doctors-photos-over-protective-gear-2020-4
If you would like to order your face badge please enter your details in the Qualtrics survey link below. Please send your photo through on the survey in question 6 in the highest resolution possible. If you are unable to send a photo (head shot please) we will organise a time in the coming weeks to come and take your photo.
https://uwa.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_9uhHaSVK84IkoFU
