Innovation
The accessible communication platform for healthcare, enabling safe, equitable communication across language and communication barriers
Name and Title of Project Lead
Tim Grimaldi, Managing Director, CardMedic
About
Communication barriers arising from low health literacy, language differences, cognitive impairment, and sensory loss contribute to delays, safety risks, extended hospital length of stay and health inequalities when appropriate communication support is unavailable.
CardMedic is a clinical communication platform that brings together clinically assured multilingual content, accessibility tools, AI-assisted communication and existing professional interpreter services, all in one place. This includes 50+ languages, alongside Easy Read, Read Aloud, Sign Language, Live Translate functionalities and seamless access to professional interpreters. By combining clinically assured content, AI-enabled language support and professional interpreter access, CardMedic enables rapid translation, improves accessibility and ensures the right communication method at the right time.
Through the SBRI Healthcare project, an independent evaluation of CardMedic was carried out within an urgent and emergency care setting. The independent evaluation found consistently positive outcomes across communication, workflow efficiency and user experience.
100% of surveyed urgent care staff reported that CardMedic improved communication with patients compared with previous methods, while 96% reported that it was faster than existing approaches. Staff also reported reduced delays in accessing communication support and positive experiences using the platform's multilingual communication, live translation and interpreter access capabilities.
During the evaluation period, CardMedic demonstrated significant real-world utilisation, with more than 1,800 registered users and over 7,500 patient interactions across the platform, delivering a demonstrable reduction in the cost per interaction while improving staff experience.
From a patient perspective, the evaluation found evidence of improved accessibility, understanding, confidence and experience, particularly for people facing language and communication barriers.
Overall, the evaluation demonstrated the value of the CardMedic Blended Communication Model, combining clinically assured multilingual content, digital language support and professional interpreter access within a single platform. The findings indicate that this approach can improve communication, patient experience and workforce efficiency, deliver a demonstrable reduction in the cost of communication, and support health systems to reduce health inequalities and provide more equitable, person-centred care.
Growth and Commercial Traction
- Available on G-Cloud 15
- Fully compliant with GDPR and UK data protection
- DPIA completed and aligned to NHS DTAC standards
- Year-on-year revenue growth driven by healthcare adoption
- Strategic partnerships with local, national and international Language Service Providers and healthcare technology partners
- Expanding commercial presence in the US
- Raised £1.1M private capital to date
- 6 jobs created/safeguarded
- Supported by Texas Medical Center and the Mayo Clinic Innovation Exchange
- Clinical Entrepreneur Programme and NHS Innovator Accelerator alumni
Benefits to Patients
- ~7500 patient communication interactions supported during the independent SBRI Healthcare evaluation at University Hospitals Sussex
- 28% increase in patient confidence when using CardMedic
- Provides clinically assured communication in 50+ languages, alongside Easy Read, Read Aloud, Sign Language support and interpreter access
- Statistically significant improvement in patient satisfaction (p<0.001) when CardMedic was used in a US study
"Being able to understand everything in my own language straight away made a huge difference. I felt calmer, involved and able to give proper consent."
Benefits to the System
- Implemented across 25+ NHS Trusts across Emergency departments, ambulance, inpatient, maternity, outpatient, and community and primary care settings
- 100% of staff surveyed reported that CardMedic either greatly improved or improved communication with patients compared with previous methods, while 96% reported it was much faster or faster than the approaches they had used previously
- Delivers a demonstrable reduction in the cost of communication through the CardMedic Blended Communication Model, combining clinically assured content, digital language support and professional interpreter access
Clinician quote
"CardMedic gives us immediate access to multilingual content and our existing interpreter providers in one place. It saves time, reduces risk and improves patient experience across the Trust." ED Consultant
Clinician quote
“Total gamechanger. Migrant worker presented with atypical abdominal pain….Super quick and easy to use. Saved so much time, love it!”
Societal Benefits
- Set up the CardMedic Foundation to contribute towards global health equality aligned with WHO Global Health Policy & UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Supports health systems to reduce health inequalities, including alignment with initiatives such as NHS England CORE20PLUS5, by improving access for underserved and inclusion health populations
- Reduces printed materials, avoidable repeat appointments associated with communication barriers, and travel for face-to-face interpreting
Date Published
August 2026