Accessing Care can be Overwhelming for Disable People

Patients, especially those who may have logistical challenges with analog-heavy systems, might benefit significantly from digital health solutions. At the same time, health IT developers and stakeholders must understand how a product’s design can make it more difficult – or impossible – for some People to connect with care. Laura Jantos, a healthcare IT consultant and patient advocate, believes the first thing People in the sector should know about her point of view is that “I am also in the room.”

In 2012, Jantos ran the healthcare IT practiced at a management consulting business when she suffered a traumatic brain injury and considerable cognitive impairment after a snowboarding accident. Trying to navigate the healthcare system during her rehabilitation offered her the opportunity to research how difficult it is to connect with treatment. Finding and obtaining the care you require can be a difficult task.

It’s difficult for anyone, but it’s even more difficult when you have a disability. She mentioned, for example, that cognitive problems can make navigating screens incredibly challenging. She claims that attempting to do so often has bodily consequences, such as migraines or emotional triggers. It can happen rapidly, and it may be the only thing you can do on a given day.

For example, if I receive a paper statement and wish to pay it online, it can be pretty tricky if the layout of the paper statement and the layout of the online bill do not match perfectly. She also mentioned the process of refilling a prescription, which can entail several stages and obstacles. It can be demoralizing to try to get past these instances of inaccessibility, she explains.