Patient whiteboards

Your patient bedside whiteboard is located near your bed and is there to:

• Help you (and the people who are who are important to you such as your family or carer) share information with the staff caring for you
• Invite and remind staff to talk with you about what is important to you (and your family or carer) and answer any questions you might have

The patient bedside whiteboard does not replace:

• Our usual communication with you, such as talking with you during ward rounds and giving you written information about your care
• The medical record system

When you are admitted to a ward, the nurse will talk to you about the patient bedside whiteboard and ask your permission to use the whiteboard. Let us know if you would prefer not to use the whiteboard.

The patient bedside whiteboard will be updated (in discussion with you) at the change of shift between your nurses, during ward wounds and other times as needed.

If the board is not updated, let your nurse know.

We will make sure that we respect your privacy by:

• Not including sensitive information and checking that you are happy with what is written
• Speaking in an appropriate volume when updating the patient bedside whiteboard when in a shared room

We want you to write on the patient bedside whiteboard to tell us what is important to you and what matters most to you.

For example, you, your family or carer may like to write:

• "I would like room temperature water in my jug not cold water"
• "I prefer my shower in the afternoons just before visitors arrive"
• "One of my goals is to be able to walk 50 metres so I can attend my niece’s 21st birthday party"

The people treating you may not always be available when your family or carer is here. We still want to be able to answer their questions. We encourage your family or carer to write down their questions so we can do our best to answer them.

For example, they may like to write:

• "Please let us know when the dietitian will come to visit mum as we have a few questions to ask"
• "Can you please wash Mum’s hair?" 
• "Can you assist Dad with filling the menu form in as he has trouble with his arthritis?"
• "Mum will be going home in three days but I am unable to pick her up and dad doesn’t drive anymore. Can you help arrange some transport?"