Online health care and accessibility

[kestrell]

I feel as if all I post here anymore are complaints, but it is just one of those years. Last week I had a really painful arthritis flare up in my right hip, which is a new thing, and my GP basically said, Let's wait and see if it goes away, despite my trying to explain about how much pain I was in. She recommended taking ibuprofen, because, hey, I never thought of trying that on my own, as it didn't help at all. I've ordered a mattress topper, in hopes that that might at least make it less painful to lie in bed. Also: lavender-infused mattress topper, ooooo.

Anyway, while at the health clinic, I asked for a code so I could log onto the online healthcare Website that allows for tracking appointments and communicating with doctors, only to find out once I tried logging in that it seems to be totally inaccessible. I mean, all I can find for my screen reader to read is the copyright info from the company who made the software--good to know they prioritized the important things.

Comments

Sympathy

[jesse_the_k]

I’m managing my hip pain by rotating thru industrial strength lidocaine patches, ice packs, and hot packs.

Arg re the software

Re: Sympathy

[kestrell]

Are those lidocaine patches available over the counter? I can't use ice packs, since anything cold touching my body makes me feel unbearably cold all over, and then I have to take a hot bath and curl up under a heavy blanket or two before I feel warm again.
I should pull out my heating pad and reorder the ginger and rosemary ointment made by the amazing witch in Salem who makes my essential and perfume oils.

Re: Sympathy

[j00j]

Fucking health portal sites. My favorite in inaccessibility was the one that played a shell game with 3 buttons that looked like the login button-- I can only assume someone decided this was a "security" feature. Epic's MyChart is the least heinous one I've seen, but I don't normally use it with a screenreader so I can't truly vouch for it.

yep, lidocaine patches are available over the counter.
Other things my chronic pain having household sometimes uses:
- lidocaine cream
- capsaicin cream (I can personally vouch for this one-- helpful when I had a cough so bad it strained a rib)
- lidocaine spray

Things other people like that we don't know about because partner is allergic to menthol and the smell fucks him up:
- tiger balm
- biofreeze and similar sprays

Re: Sympathy

[kestrell]

Actually, My Chart is the portal software my local clinic uses, and the one which was inaccessible with a screen reader, at least, if one is using Google Chrome.

I can't tolerate anything menthol, either.

- capsaicin cream sounds like something I might try: I've looked into this one before and am always amused by the term "counterirritant."

Re: Sympathy

[j00j]

Dammit, Epic. The mobile version kinda worked with VoiceOver when I experimented briefly, but who the fuck knows how functional it actually is.

Hope you find something that helps, and that you can see someone who takes the arthritis seriously!

Counterirritant *is* amusing. You irritate me? I irritate you right back, body!

Re: Sympathy

[kestrell]

Hm, some apps are definitely more accessible with Voiceover/ on an iPhone, but I've only had my iPhone since late May, and I'm still learning how to navigate, and which gesture do what.

Also, as a disability and technology advocate, I get irritated with the situation that something is accessible using a specific screen reader, browser, or even OS. Recently, there has this been an ironic cycle regarding my technology: working with this disability and Mass Health council pays a small honorarium, which I have been using to update my technology, as in the case of the iPhone.

But many visually impaired people can't afford iPhone or Apple products, and are using old versions of screen readers and outdated browsers. Then there is the learning curve, which is pretty significant.

Sorry for preaching to the choir, you probably already know this, and and I should probably go get caffeinated.

Caffeine, now...

Re: Sympathy

[j00j]

*nod* yeah, there's no reason for this stuff not to be accessible via any screenreader in any browser. I don't work in web development anymore but I try to keep up since inevitably I wind up on projects where no one is thinking about this stuff. At least I haven't uttered the phrase "we need to get sued" lately. One of my last jobs had to come damn near close for them to deal with their enormous pile of faculty-created inaccessible course content.

Re: Sympathy

[kestrell]

I forget whih technology I was looking into recently, but I came across a National Federation for the Blind survey which is currently open and tracking statistics and consumer satisfaction, and I said to myself, Yes, there is the next NFB lawsuit in the making.

Re: Sympathy

[j00j]

*cackling*
It shouldn't be necessary, but since people will continue to avoid their ethical and legal responsibility, here we are.

Re: Sympathy

[kestrell]

I've taken to just shaking my head regretfully and saying, "You really have no idea how many blind lawyers there are, do you?".

Re: Sympathy

[jesse_the_k]

Lidocaine patches come in two strengths:

Over-the-counter Salonpas at 4% lidocaine

and

Lidoderm RX at 5%

I tried out the 4% version and got some relief, so asked my doc to RX the stronger ones. One percent makes a difference! They're only FDA approved for neuropathy, though, so Medicare/my pharmacy benefits manager won't pay for them. I hope MassHealth is more generous when it comes to "alternatives to opiods."

Do make sure you're just getting lidocaine. There are lots of pain patches in the CVS -- many have menthol, which might trigger your cold reaction.

Re: Sympathy

[kestrell]

One of the great things about serving on the disability advisory council that works with Mass Health and my insurance program, is that when I mention a serious issue, usually the people who can directly address it, or who known who can address it, are in the room, and come up to talk to me about issues as soon as the meeting is over.

Things don't always get fixed, or fixed right away, but just having people listen and know they are acknowledging that yes, that issue is seriously broken, and needs to be fixed, is affirming.