Published in the Vancouver Sun October 23, 2014
Talking to your doctor isn’t always easy. Difficult or personal topics can be challenging to discuss, yet are crucial to identify health and lifestyle concerns that might need immediate attention.
This is especially true for youth and adolescents, who are often uncomfortable sharing personal details with adults.
Dr. Sandy Whitehouse, former medical director of the emergency department at B.C. Children’s Hospital and a clinical associate professor at the University of B.C., has experienced and researched the communication challenges between youth and health care providers. And, she has found a way to bridge the gap with a tablet platform she calls TickiT. With a few taps and swipes on an iPad, doctors can have comprehensive patient information in minutes.
“We have very good technology in medicine now, but where the challenges are is in the communication between patient and physician, particularly with youth who are often disengaged,” said Whitehouse. READ MORE