Clinical Brief
Communication breakdown at the bedside remains one of the most persistent barriers to effective, timely patient care. Millions of patients annually experience temporary or permanent loss of verbal communication due to intubation, stroke, neuromuscular disease, or cognitive impairment.¹ For these patients, the inability to express pain, consent, or urgent need directly affects care quality, care speed, and outcomes.
SET Board is a clinical-grade, non-verbal communication aid designed to close that gap at the point of care with no technology dependency, no training barrier, and no downtime.
SET Board is a clinical-grade, non-verbal communication aid designed to close that gap at the point of care with no technology dependency, no training barrier, and no downtime.
CLINICAL VALUE & FISCAL IMPACT
Sustainable Cost Efficiency
SET Board is engineered as a durable medical asset, not a consumable. Fabricated from high-grade acrylic, it withstands the turnover demands of acute environments and resists the wear that forces frequent replacement of laminated or paper-based communication aids. A single board remains a productive bedside asset for months to years, eliminating reorder cycles, inventory management labor, and the administrative overhead that disposable alternatives generate.
Infection Control & Sanitation
Solid acrylic is non-porous and non-absorbent, compatible with standard hospital disinfectants, and carries no delamination risk found in other single-use communication aids. By removing the micro-reservoir effect at peeling edges where pathogens concentrate in laminated products, SET Board is engineered to meet surface hygiene protocols without compromise.
Tactile Quality & General Excellence
The physical quality of a communication aid directly affects patient experience and perceived quality of care. The weight and rigidity of 1/8" acrylic signals institutional investment to patients and families, while the high-clarity surface provides a superior writing and viewing experience compared to the glare and distortion common in cheap plastic or laminated alternatives.
Sustainable Cost Efficiency
SET Board is engineered as a durable medical asset, not a consumable. Fabricated from high-grade acrylic, it withstands the turnover demands of acute environments and resists the wear that forces frequent replacement of laminated or paper-based communication aids. A single board remains a productive bedside asset for months to years, eliminating reorder cycles, inventory management labor, and the administrative overhead that disposable alternatives generate.
Infection Control & Sanitation
Solid acrylic is non-porous and non-absorbent, compatible with standard hospital disinfectants, and carries no delamination risk found in other single-use communication aids. By removing the micro-reservoir effect at peeling edges where pathogens concentrate in laminated products, SET Board is engineered to meet surface hygiene protocols without compromise.
Tactile Quality & General Excellence
The physical quality of a communication aid directly affects patient experience and perceived quality of care. The weight and rigidity of 1/8" acrylic signals institutional investment to patients and families, while the high-clarity surface provides a superior writing and viewing experience compared to the glare and distortion common in cheap plastic or laminated alternatives.
¹ Karlsen et al. (2022), Journal of Advanced Nursing; Lund et al. (2024), Augmentative and Alternative Communication.
KEY FEATURES
1. PAIN SCALE
SET Board integrates three commonly used pain scales for a more comprehensive evaluation. They can be used independently or combined.
A Numeric Rating Scale (NRS) allows the patient to rate their pain on a scale of 0 to 10. Zero means, “no pain,” and ten means the, “worst possible pain.”
A Categorical Rating Scale (CRS) allows the patient to rate their pain intensity using color as a visual color descriptor of their pain. The SET Board prioritizes color to this section to hold the focus of this critical evaluation.
A Verbal Pain Intensity Scale (VPIS) allows the patient a simple way to rate their pain intensity by identifying visual descriptor of their pain.
2. ALPHABET BOARD
SET Board integrates an alphabet board and numbers that allow patients to spell out words and phrases or to assign numbers during communication with clinicians by pointing, even if they have limited physical mobility. Letters are arranged in alphabetical order and the numbers are arranged 0 - 10 for better recall, especially for children or non-typists. People learn their alphabet and numerals in fixed sequences from early childhood, which supports easier sequential recall.
3. FREE WRITING SPACE
SET Board dedicates an area on the front for free writing. Complicated subject matters may need to be expressed beyond words and numbers. This allows either patient or clinician ample room for drawing diagrams or illustrations. Each SET Board comes with one dry erase pen and storage clip.
4. CALL REQUEST
SET Board integrates “call” action icons that allow the patient to request communication with a friend or family member, or with a clinician other than the one providing their immediate care if they feel they are at risk.
Family members may not be aware a patient is hospitalized. “CONTACT MY FAMILY,” allows a patient to request contacting them or request re-initiating communication as needed.
On rare occasions, a patient may feel rational or irrational fear experienced during the administration of their healthcare. “CONTACT SUPERVISOR I AM AT RISK,” allows a patient to freely alert their concerns.
5. COMMUNICATION CARDS
SET Board integrates the top eight ranked most essential patient requests in the form of easy to identify, high contrast gray-scale communication cards. A single gesture to one of these instantly communicates to a clinician the help the patient is requesting.
The power of Yes and No. These two basic responses form the foundation of triage, consent, and critical decision making. It can be life altering. SET Board embeds these high visibility cards within the gray scale icon system allowing patients to gain an immediate, reliable way to assert their needs.
At the center of SET Board lies a dual-view, body mapping diagram designed to help both patients and healthcare providers clearly indicate the area of concern. This feature supports faster symptom localization and facilitates a more precise, targeted clinical evaluation.
WHY IT WORKS
SET Board integrates the top eight ranked most essential patient requests in the form of easy to identify, high contrast gray-scale communication cards. A single gesture to one of these instantly communicates to a clinician the help the patient is requesting.
The power of Yes and No. These two basic responses form the foundation of triage, consent, and critical decision making. It can be life altering. SET Board embeds these high visibility cards within the gray scale icon system allowing patients to gain an immediate, reliable way to assert their needs.
At the center of SET Board lies a dual-view, body mapping diagram designed to help both patients and healthcare providers clearly indicate the area of concern. This feature supports faster symptom localization and facilitates a more precise, targeted clinical evaluation.
WHY IT WORKS
SET Board is informed by evidence-based design strategies that support communication in high-acuity and cognitively demanding healthcare environments. It leverages principles of visual clarity, cognitive load reduction, and rapid signal recognition to empower patient expression when verbal interaction is limited or impaired.
Minimized Cognitive Load
A grayscale visual system reduces unnecessary stimulation and helps patients maintain focus, particularly those experiencing fatigue, neurological compromise, or sensory sensitivity. Reduced visual complexity has been shown to improve processing speed and comprehension in cognitively compromised patients.
Critical Signal Prioritization
Selective use of color emphasizes urgent actions, enabling clinicians to quickly identify and respond to patient needs. Color differentiation as a triage signal aligns with established clinical communication design standards.
Icon-Driven Interface
Intuitive iconography aligned with universal design standards improves communication across language barriers, literacy levels, and cognitive impairments. AAC research consistently supports symbol-based communication as effective for non-verbal patients in acute care.
Minimized Cognitive Load
A grayscale visual system reduces unnecessary stimulation and helps patients maintain focus, particularly those experiencing fatigue, neurological compromise, or sensory sensitivity. Reduced visual complexity has been shown to improve processing speed and comprehension in cognitively compromised patients.
Critical Signal Prioritization
Selective use of color emphasizes urgent actions, enabling clinicians to quickly identify and respond to patient needs. Color differentiation as a triage signal aligns with established clinical communication design standards.
Icon-Driven Interface
Intuitive iconography aligned with universal design standards improves communication across language barriers, literacy levels, and cognitive impairments. AAC research consistently supports symbol-based communication as effective for non-verbal patients in acute care.
CREDENTIALING
Get SET, LLC is actively registered with Symplr Access and Green Security, the two primary vendor credentialing and compliance platforms required by most major U.S. health systems for supplier onboarding and contract eligibility. Registration is complete and verified, meaning procurement can move forward without onboarding delays.
STATEMENT OF GOALS
The primary mission of SET Board is to improve patient outcomes by eliminating communication barriers in clinical environments through a low-tech, high-impact solution that enhances clarity, expedites responsiveness, and restores patient agency at the point of care. To achieve this, our development goals are focused on three key areas:
1. National Clinical Integration
Our immediate goal is to establish SET Board as a bedside standard within healthcare systems across the U.S. and to help clinicians in high-acuity environments respond to patient needs with greater speed. We also aim to support nurses and families during more stable stages of floor recovery, where a reliable communication aid remains equally essential.
2. Global Accessibility & Language Inclusion
To serve diverse patient populations, we are committed to developing and distributing SET Board in multiple languages. This initiative targets both domestic U.S. markets where language access is critical to equitable care, and international healthcare systems where foundational communication aids remain underdeveloped or unavailable.
3. Expansion of the Product Ecosystem
We intend to evolve SET Board from a single communication aid into a comprehensive family of specialized interfaces, including custom versions for stroke rehabilitation, occupational and physical therapy, pediatric care, and compact tactical variants optimized for combat medicine and field triage environments.
1. National Clinical Integration
Our immediate goal is to establish SET Board as a bedside standard within healthcare systems across the U.S. and to help clinicians in high-acuity environments respond to patient needs with greater speed. We also aim to support nurses and families during more stable stages of floor recovery, where a reliable communication aid remains equally essential.
2. Global Accessibility & Language Inclusion
To serve diverse patient populations, we are committed to developing and distributing SET Board in multiple languages. This initiative targets both domestic U.S. markets where language access is critical to equitable care, and international healthcare systems where foundational communication aids remain underdeveloped or unavailable.
3. Expansion of the Product Ecosystem
We intend to evolve SET Board from a single communication aid into a comprehensive family of specialized interfaces, including custom versions for stroke rehabilitation, occupational and physical therapy, pediatric care, and compact tactical variants optimized for combat medicine and field triage environments.
TARGET MARKETS
SET Board is currently available for domestic deployment across the U.S., with active vendor credentialing in place for hospital system procurement. Federal procurement eligibility is established through registration with the U.S. Government's System for Award Management (SAM), positioning SET Board for acquisition through VA medical centers, federal health agencies, and defense medical channels.
Internationally, SET Board's multilingual design supports deployment across diverse healthcare systems and patient populations. Current and near-term language development prioritizes markets where communication aid infrastructure is limited and the need for low-tech, high-impact solutions is most acute.
ABOUT SET Board
The story of SET Board begins with Sallie Taylor, OTR/L, a Master Clinician who served on the occupational therapy faculties of the University of Florida and Washington University in St. Louis. She provided over thirty years of occupational therapy service delivery and fifteen years in director and supervising positions for industrial rehabilitation and long term care. Her practices included additional experience in acute care, renal rehabilitation, and mental health.
Her son, Mark Taylor, is a multiple Emmy-nominated Art Director. His expertise is in design that facilitates clear and effective messaging and he has vast experience observing the intersections of people, systems, and environments. Inspired by his firsthand experience with the communication challenges faced by his mother’s non-verbal status during her postoperative care in the spring of 2025, he created SET Board as a communication aid rooted in his mother's lifetime of clinical expertise.
That passion is the foundation SET Board was built on.
HOW TO CONNECT
Whether you are part of a clinical care team, hospital leadership, or a healthcare procurement group, we are actively seeking partners to help bring SET Board to the patients who need it most. We welcome conversations around pilot programs, clinical feedback, and institutional procurement.
To schedule a demo, request more information, or discuss partnership opportunities, visit us at www.getsetboard.com and message us through our contact page. You can also email us directly at info@getsetboard.com.