Everyone deserves
to be heard in
healthcare.
When communication is difficult, MedConcerns® makes it possible for patients to share their medical concerns and helps providers understand them.
Created by Healthcare Providers
MedConcerns was developed by a speech-language pathologist and a physician who saw the same problem from two sides: people struggling to express medical needs, and providers struggling to understand them.
Together, they designed MedConcerns to make communication support part of everyday care – simple, clear, and accessible.
What is MedConcerns?
MedConcerns is an app that helps people with communication challenges express their medical concerns.
It is available as a web app for healthcare facilities, with full implementation and onboarding support, and on the App Store for people with communication disorders and their care partners.
Using simple visuals, audio, and text, MedConcerns helps uncover important symptom information at the bedside. It provides the communication supports patients need to answer the clinical questions providers commonly ask.
- Built by clinicians for real-world care.
- Works on shared or personal devices
- No extra training or equipment needed
- Intuitive and easy to use
How It Works
Designed for accurate, efficient symptom reporting, MedConcerns mirrors the flow of questions providers commonly ask — but with visual and audio response options, and built-in confirmation questions that support comprehension and clarity.
Begin with a simple introduction and check in
With communication supports included
Continue to the main concerns screen
Select the problem from a menu of common concerns and symptoms.
Answer simple, guided follow-up questions
The app follows a clear, clinical flow — just like a provider would.
Check choices together
Each selection is confirmed along the way, supporting accuracy and shared understanding.
Review the summary screen
A clear, step-by-step record of selections shows the full picture for the care team.
What Else Is Included?
Beyond symptom reporting, MedConcerns includes a full set of tools to support everyday communication.
Needs Board – Quickly express basic wants, needs, and comfort concerns.
Education Pages – Built-in guidance about aphasia, apraxia, and communication strategies.
Topic Board – Broader communication with providers beyond symptoms.
Pain Scale and Mood Scale – Clarify symptoms and monitor changes more easily.
Yes/No Board – Simple, clear responses to support conversation and decision-making.
Settings & Customization – Adjust which icons appear on screen, select language (English/Spanish), and choose gender of body image and voice.
Whiteboard – Free-form space for writing, typing, drawing, or adding any icons from the app.
Confirmation pages – Automatically review and confirm understanding before moving on.
Built for real patients, real care
Whether someone is living with aphasia, motor speech disorders, cognitive challenges, or another communication barrier, MedConcerns helps ensure their medical concerns are heard and understood.
People with Aphasia or Dysarthria
People with aphasia or motor speech difficulties after stroke or brain injury who know what they want to say but need help expressing it.
Patients on Ventilators or with Trachs
Patients with ventilators or trachs who are unable to speak.
People who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
People who are Deaf or hard of hearing, who may miss parts of spoken conversation.
Providers and Care Teams
Providers and care teams who want clearer, faster, more accurate conversations.
People with Cognitive Challenges
People with cognitive challenges like dementia who need extra time and visuals.
Limited English Proficiency
Non-native English speakers who benefit from icons and simple text to bridge language gaps.
Why It Matters
Without effective supports, communication barriers can lead to...
patients:
Wrong or inappropriate care1
Delays in treatment and missed concerns2
Preventable harm and unnecessary suffering3
Feeling left out of conversations about their own health4
Hospitals & Facilities:
Higher readmission rates and longer lengths of stay1
Lower patient satisfaction scores5
Avoidable adverse medical events3
Increased stress and frustration for healthcare staff6
For Hospitals & Healthcare Facilities
MedConcerns is designed for the pace and pressure of
real care, where clear communication keeps patients safe.
No New Devices Needed
Runs on the devices your staff already use. Works on shared or personal devices, no extra training or special equipment required.
Follows the Flow of Care
Mirrors a typical medical assessment, making it intuitive for both healthcare providers and patients.
Makes Hard Conversations Easier
Structured menus and accessible response options make it easier to get accurate information from patients who struggle to communicate.
Works without Wifi
Reliable bedside access, even offline. Some save features require connectivity.
Gives Every Patient a Voice
Supports equity by giving your most vulnerable patients a voice.
Helps Prevent Costly Harm
Patients with communication barriers are three times more likely to experience preventable adverse events¹ — a risk MedConcerns is designed to reduce.
Available in English and Spanish
The app switches languages with one simple toggle.
Built on Proven Strategies
Uses proven communication strategies — built right in.
Improves Communication Equity & Compliance
Aligns with ADA and Joint Commission standards, advancing health equity and reducing risk for hospitals and care teams.
Works for Every Member of Your Care Team
MedConcerns guides the interaction so any staff member can support a patient's communication effectively, regardless of specialized training.
Support That Makes Implementation Simple
MedConcerns partners with hospitals and healthcare facilities to ensure communication
access is easy to adopt, scale, and support across teams.
Direct Collaboration
We work directly with hospitals, rehab units, and long-term care facilities to make communication access part of everyday care.
Flexible Licensing
Bulk pricing lets healthcare facilities easily give all care team members, from providers to nurses and therapists, access to MedConcerns on shared or personal devices.
Supporting Every Conversation
MedConcerns is intuitive and easy to use, with resources and support to help staff adapt to each patient’s needs.
Here to Support You
We’re available to answer questions, guide implementation, and help your facility get started.
See the Difference
Real experiences that show how better communication changes care
“I had a patient who had aphasia following a CVA. I noticed she was feeling down but wanted to inquire how exactly she was feeling so I could better help her. I was able to use MedConcerns in order for her to identify she was feeling depressed and scared. From there, she seemed to trust me more because I took the time to understand her emotions with this amazing tool!”
“I used MedConcerns with a patient with aphasia while his nurse was there. He pointed to 'bowels' and kind of mimed stirring his water. His nurse figured it out right away and was able to help him. It was clear he was so happy to be understood.”
“MedConcerns is great! MedConcerns has become an every day tool that I rely on to greatly improve my communication with patients with aphasia or other communication difficulties. Working in a rehabilitation hospital, I reach for MedConcerns daily. MedConcerns helps my patients be active participant in their care. My interactions with patients with aphasia are more effective and more efficient since using MedConcerns”
“A patient with severe receptive/expressive aphasia and baseline cognitive impairments continued to express 'burning' pain using the app. I informed the physician that the patient was expressing concerns that may be UTI. The doctor ordered the test based on the patient's expression of symptoms using MedConcerns and the patient was able to receive the appropriate treatment.”
“Thanks for everything you are doing. You are truly making a difference!”
“My sister has had a hard time speaking after her stroke. This app is a wonderful way to communicate with her when she is trying to tell me what’s bothering her. I might never have understood her without it.”
“I showed the education pages in family training. The patient responded by nodding vigorously, smiling, and pointing at the material while looking toward their family, as if to say 'this is what I've been wanting to tell you!' I think having language for their experience can be profound.”
“A patient was able to explain their discomfort more specifically and efficiently to nursing staff rather than just noting pain to nursing staff”
“I learned more about my husband's pain. I didn't know he was getting a burning sensation until we used MedConcerns. I learned so much more because of the app and my husband was so excited to pick out the picture on how he was feeling. What I loved most was how he was engaging with the Doctor. He felt he was being heard. You have no idea what an amazing feeling it is for a doctor to engage and truly hear how the patient is feeling and for the caregiver to watch and witness her loved one being heard. This is truly an amazing app.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Start making care more accessible
Bridge the communication gap at the point of care with a tool designed for real clinical use.
Ready to Get Started?
Contact us to learn more about bringing MedConcerns to your team.