Abstract

Chile is currently experiencing the highest healthcare crisis witnessed in the last century due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As a response to this emergency, hospitals have implemented radical changes to their day-to-day operations and functions. One of the changes is the suspension of visits to inpatient facilities by their social support network ie. family and friends. This has significantly impacted the psychological and emotional health of patients, for example leading to uncertainty, loneliness and anxiety. As a response to this, it has been necessary to describe a methodological contribution as a clinical care protocol to facilitate communication between inpatients and social support network. The Occupational Therapy team at San José Clinical Hospital has employed the use assistive technologies such as audiovisual and/or written devices to do this. These technologies have enabled re-introduction of humanity into health care removed by the restrictions of the pandemic