"Modernising the hospital: A Roadmap for Better Accessibility, Inclusion, and Privacy"

I am sharing my recent experience at King Edward Memorial Hospital to highlight how small, systemic adjustments can make a world of difference for patients with diverse needs. As someone navigating the health system with neurodivergence, CPTSD, anxiety, and a visual impairment, I believe my observations could help the hospital further its mission of providing equitable, high-quality care.

1. Accessibility and Wayfinding

During my visit, I found the current hospital maps quite difficult to navigate due to low visual contrast. For patients with visual impairments or neurodivergent processing needs, a clear "pathway" is essential for reducing anxiety.

The Learning: Enhancing map contrast is a vital step toward meeting the Disability Discrimination Act 1992 (Cth) and the hospital's own Disability Access and Inclusion Plan. Including these in appointment notifications would be a fantastic proactive step for patient pre-planning.

2. Inclusive Representation and Language

When completing intake forms, I noticed there wasn't an option to select "Asexual" as a sexual orientation. For me, this was confusing and felt a bit exclusionary. In my experience, the current framing can inadvertently "pathologise" a valid orientation as a medical deficit, which can be particularly distressing for patients with a history of trauma.

The Learning: Updating these forms to be more inclusive and neutral helps protect a patient’s bodily autonomy and aligns with the Equal Opportunity Act 1984 (WA), ensuring a truly culturally safe environment for everyone.

3. Upholding Privacy Standards

I felt a little uncomfortable when ward mobile phones were used in my shared patient space, as I inadvertently overheard sensitive clinical information. I value others' privacy as much as my own and want to ensure everyone feels safe in their room.

The Learning: To uphold the statutory duty of confidentiality under Section 216 of the Health Services Act 2016 (WA) and APP 11 privacy standards, keeping clinical communications within staff-only areas is an important safeguard for patient peace of mind in my opinion.

Looking Forward:

I am sharing this in the hope of seeing a proactive review of map accessibility, more inclusive language on our intake forms, and a procedural update for ward phone use. I look forward to seeing how KEMH continues to lead in patient-centred care.