Julian's Key Health Passport — The two-way communication tool for patients with disability and healthcare staff
Queensland Health has recently launched an updated version of Julian’s Key Health Passport (Julian’s Key), a written communication tool designed particularly for Queenslanders with intellectual disability to assist in communicating key information and preferences with healthcare staff.
Healthcare professionals will find the tool useful when interacting with patients who have difficulty communicating or may be nonspeaking.
Julian’s Key has been co-designed by people with disability, and is available as a printed, physical booklet as well as a digital version.
Benefits for clinicians
In circumstances where having a conversation with your patient may require additional supports or may be impossible, Julian’s Key Health Passport is a valuable tool to help healthcare professionals understand:
a patient’s care requirements
minimise misunderstandings
ensure optimal treatment and/or consultation outcomes.
Your patient’s Health Passport contains essential information about their:
disability
health needs
communication and treatment preferences
feelings when unwell
interests and hobbies.
As a written record, Julian’s Key Health Passport solely serves as a communication tool for patients and does not request nor contain any financial details. It is not meant to replace routine clinical care or treatment.
Four simple tips to make the most of Julian’s Key
Always ask a patient with disability or their carer for their Julian’s Key Health Passport before you treat them.
Always ask a patient if their information is up to date.
The patient’s Julian’s Key Health Passport should always be returned to the patient once important information about them has been documented. It should not be kept in the hospital or community health clinic files.
Julian’s Key Health Passport should be treated as additional or supplementary information about a patient. It does not replace routine assessment and care.
Benefits for your patients
Julian’s Key Health Passport is a tool designed to empower patients to be involved in their healthcare and treatment decisions.
It allows your patients to update their health information (with the help of a carer when necessary) as needed, especially when there are changes to their care needs.
Patients are encouraged to fill-out their personal health passports with as little or as much detail as they want.
Get the Health Passport
The Julian’s Key Health Passport comes in printed and print-at-home PDF formats.
Patients or carers can download the digital version from the Julian’s Key Health Passport website. Alternatively, they may request a printed copy by emailing Queensland Health at [email protected] or by calling 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84).
Users have the option to download the PDF, fill out relevant information for their treatment, and print only the pages with their information. Importantly, they have the freedom to choose who can access this information and when.
Learn more about Julian’s Key Health Passport
A suite of resources to help share and encourage the use of this important tool is available from the Julian’s Key Health Passport website. The resource suite includes:
• factsheets and posters
• video and audio files
• digital assets
• social script
• social media tiles.
More information for health professionals
My Health Journal is a similar communication tool that can help support patients with mild to moderate symptoms of dementia to communicate important health information and preferences between the patient, their carer/s and their healthcare team. To order copies of the free journal, please email [email protected] with the subject: My Health Journal
For primary care assessment and management advice, please visit the Brisbane South HealthPathways intellectual disability page.
Visit our People with Disability page.