Touch-Screen Device Offers Multilingual Medical Communication

A new communication device holds a large number of prerecorded videos of doctors asking questions in various languages, helping medical professionals communicate with patients that speak a foreign language.

The Phrazer is a small, hand-held device that can hold over information in over 100 languages, including most major protocols. A touch-screen interface collects patient information and medical history, as well as symptoms and complaints, via interactive, prerecorded videos of a doctor speaking the patient's preferred language. The patient answers the video questions by tapping on the touchscreen, and the results are then presented in the caretaker's own language. Throughout this process, the device monitors vital signs, alerting caregivers if immediate treatment is needed.


The process uses a quality process in patient interactions, gaining information as well as informed, video recorded, patient consent to the procedures. In cases of deficient patient medical literacy, onboard support media can be used to explain the questions. The device then transfers patient data to all major electronic medical records (EMRs) via Bluetooth or USB drive.

The device receives daily system and media updates. The Phrazer is a product of GeaCom (Duluth, MN, USA).

"The Phrazer can help reduce medical errors by eliminating linguistic barriers between caregiver and patient,” said Mat Johnson, founder and CEO of GeaCom. "It's the biggest need in medicine today; it's time to get this right.”

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