What to do if no interpeter available?

I am a hearing individual working in the medical office setting. We have a deaf patient scheduled for December 12 to meet with one of our surgeons to discuss treatment for her condition. The appointment was made over 3 weeks ago; I contacted two local agencies to request an ASL interpreter, but have received no response that they have one available. SO frustrating...we want to provide an interpreter for this patient, but what do we do if none is available, even with 3 weeks' notice! We know we need to provide one for her per the ADA and the patient has contacted us to inform us she needs one; I did tell her we are doing our best to locate one for her. What do we do if one is not available? Any suggestions would be welcome!

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Moderator naisho

Might not be enough time for this appt but if you have regular deaf clientele, look into VRI.....

Have you contacted the patient herself and asked her opinion about this problem? Perhaps she knows of an interpreter she could use, or another resource in which to use to locate one. Maybe she would prefer to reschedule the apptm at a time a terp is available? Unfortunately, this problem is frustrating for all parties and far too common :-(. I am interested to hear how others have dealt with this and/or their opinions on the best options.

Video Remote Interpreting, or is it possible to pay now for anyone hired to do the job
and then be reimbursed later by whomever is responsible for paying for interpreters for you?

Fuzzy

kterp said:

I am a hearing individual working in the medical office setting. We have a deaf patient scheduled for December 12 to meet with one of our surgeons to discuss treatment for her condition. The appointment was made over 3 weeks ago; I contacted two local agencies to request an ASL interpreter, but have received no response that they have one available. SO frustrating...we want to provide an interpreter for this patient, but what do we do if none is available, even with 3 weeks' notice! We know we need to provide one for her per the ADA and the patient has contacted us to inform us she needs one; I did tell her we are doing our best to locate one for her. What do we do if one is not available? Any suggestions would be welcome!

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Moderator naisho

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How many times have you contacted the local agencies? If they haven't called you back, call them back. It is, after all, your responsiblity to provide the interpreter. If the local agencies don't have one available, call the next closest agency. Contact the hospital where the doctor has privleges and ask them who they use as an interpreter. If you can't find one by Dec. 12th, reschedule her appointment. It is not appropriate to see her without an interpreter. She cannot be fully informed and consent to any treatment unless she has a terp.

Just curious where in Michigan this is. I live in Chicago, but my girlfriend lives in Hudsonville.

I don't know where you're in Michigan area, but have you tried this organization. I've been there and people were nice to me.

Feel free to check the organization:

http://deafhhs.org/

ZVRS have VRI (Video Relay Interpreter). It requires broadband connection. You can contact ZVRS either Email or call them. Their contact is in ZVRS. They DO have equipment provided with expense. It's your decision and you can decide if you want to go for it or not. You can easily have interpreter through video in a moment notice. Usually they charges per minutes. They have list of rates that you will know how much it cost. It is easier than calling and have an appointment made to interpreters. So you might want to ask several deaf people to see how they feel about VRI service since it's a live video that you can talk to deaf person while they watch interpreter signing and when they sign to interpreter, she or he will voice for you what they say.

Contact ZVRS

Thanks

Catty

reschedule if interpreter isn't aviable same thing w me had to go see doctor interpreter didnt show up reschedule non emergency also court interpreter didnt show up judge had to reschedule . only way otherwise bring their family that knows sign .

I don't know any legal aspects of this so don't use my advice unless you know for sure it's legit but can the doctor not just use one of those tablet PCs to communicate with the patient? I mean the doctor could write what he was saying and the patient could write back. I know it's not preferred but it's better than nothing.

ki4jgt said:

I don't know any legal aspects of this so don't use my advice unless you know for sure it's legit but can the doctor not just use one of those tablet PCs to communicate with the patient? I mean the doctor could write what he was saying and the patient could write back. I know it's not preferred but it's better than nothing.

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That is what I would do, but I cannot speak for everyone. I wouldn't want to cancel doctor appointment because interpreter wasn't available. I cannot believe that in a poor state like Michigan where many people are out of work that interpreter wasn't available!!

Maybe I should have my girlfriend aspire to be an interpreter is that is status in Michigan. Wow!!

I think you need to establish a relationship to the agencies. Since you dont have any- keep trying. just like anything in life- you need to call and leave messages with how many times you call them with a number they can reach you at.

Question- did your office request an interpreter before? does your office owe for hours billed?

Have you looked into VRI?

On the other hand, do you have a local college or university? sometimes there are ASL classes for interpreter training and they have students in need of so many hours in a work environment. This should be your last option as its not a qualified interpreter, but sometimes having one is better then nothing.

If worse comes to worse, contact customer and explain situation and see if they have a solution for you. Many cannot do a written form of communication, but some can. Sometimes they might know a freelance terp and they can give you contact info.

Failure to communicate with the customer (deaf patient) to work out a solution or explain dire situation can result a ADA lawsuit.

What are those two local agencies? Have they specifically listed interpreter referral as one of their services? You should ask the patient if she knows of a service, or you can call up a larger hospital and ask them for the number to the service they use.

I would get the patient's input. Not all deaf people absolutely have to have an interpreter, and can work with other forms of accommodation as long as the service provider makes it clear that effective communication is important to him or her. If the patient says "I need an interpreter and will accept nothing else", then keep calling agencies, freelancers, and area universities and colleges.

Oh, that's so sad to hear but I am impressed that you have a feeling for this deaf patient who needs an interpreter. Like other posters said, VRI (Video Remote Interpreting) is the best way since an interpreter service in your area can be difficult to get.

Contact Sorensen for more info. They will install a VRI equipment with a webcam. A TV and internet connection are required. The system is movable from one room to another. My workplace, USPS has one.

So I suggest that you talk to your employer about it ASAP for future appointments with deaf patients. Also contact IRS to see if it's a tax write-off. Good luck!