Miss-Delectable
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http://www.boston.com/news/local/ne...deaf_woman_frustrated_by_hospital_experience/
A deaf woman's frustrating experience at Concord Hospital highlights the state health care system's shortcomings in helping patients with limited language skills.
Joan Case of Weare was hospitalized in September with a high fever and body aches. She asked for an interpreter through the Emergency Interpreter Referral System but says no one ever showed up.
As a result, the emergency room doctor misunderstood her symptoms, leading to three days of unnecessary tests, Case said. She eventually was admitted and treated for a serious infection in her leg, but she says she didn't learn the diagnosis until a nurse told her two days later.
Case said her husband, who also is deaf, gave the emergency medical technicians a card with a toll-free number for the interpreter program. They gave the card to a nurse who said she'd take care of it, but a review of the interpreter referral system records shows no call placed from Concord Hospital to the toll-free number during the time Case was in the hospital.
"They told me an interpreter would come, but they never showed up," Case said through Laurie Gilbert, a paid interpreter fluent in American Sign Language. "I'm ready to make some noise."
Such complaints are common, said Aimee Stevens, a referral specialist with the state Department of Health and Human Services.
"What's really unfortunate is that in 2005, this kind of thing is still happening," she said. "It's not isolated to one hospital, either. It happens all over the state."
Concord Hospital would not comment on Case's experience specifically but issued a statement saying its staff is committed to quality patient care for all. It also noted that the hospital is one of only eight in New Hampshire that provides Deaf Talk, a new program designed to provide immediate access to interpretation services.
Andrew Steward, who recently served as chairman of an advisory committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, said there's no excuse for the lack of response to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing.
His committee issued a report in June describing the problems those with limited English language schools have accessing health care.
"It's outrageous," he said. "We heard about extreme disadvantages faced by people arriving at hospitals -- often with children in tow -- lapses in communication that amount to civil rights violations," he said.
The Foundation for Healthy Communities recently received a grant to address such issues affecting the deaf, hard of hearing and other cultural minorities.
"It's not just an issue of availability within a system to get an interpreter. We have to make sure a nurse, a doctor or other staffer in a given health care system recognizes this need, and knows when to make use of it appropriately," said Shawn LaFrance, the foundation's director.
A deaf woman's frustrating experience at Concord Hospital highlights the state health care system's shortcomings in helping patients with limited language skills.
Joan Case of Weare was hospitalized in September with a high fever and body aches. She asked for an interpreter through the Emergency Interpreter Referral System but says no one ever showed up.
As a result, the emergency room doctor misunderstood her symptoms, leading to three days of unnecessary tests, Case said. She eventually was admitted and treated for a serious infection in her leg, but she says she didn't learn the diagnosis until a nurse told her two days later.
Case said her husband, who also is deaf, gave the emergency medical technicians a card with a toll-free number for the interpreter program. They gave the card to a nurse who said she'd take care of it, but a review of the interpreter referral system records shows no call placed from Concord Hospital to the toll-free number during the time Case was in the hospital.
"They told me an interpreter would come, but they never showed up," Case said through Laurie Gilbert, a paid interpreter fluent in American Sign Language. "I'm ready to make some noise."
Such complaints are common, said Aimee Stevens, a referral specialist with the state Department of Health and Human Services.
"What's really unfortunate is that in 2005, this kind of thing is still happening," she said. "It's not isolated to one hospital, either. It happens all over the state."
Concord Hospital would not comment on Case's experience specifically but issued a statement saying its staff is committed to quality patient care for all. It also noted that the hospital is one of only eight in New Hampshire that provides Deaf Talk, a new program designed to provide immediate access to interpretation services.
Andrew Steward, who recently served as chairman of an advisory committee to the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights, said there's no excuse for the lack of response to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing.
His committee issued a report in June describing the problems those with limited English language schools have accessing health care.
"It's outrageous," he said. "We heard about extreme disadvantages faced by people arriving at hospitals -- often with children in tow -- lapses in communication that amount to civil rights violations," he said.
The Foundation for Healthy Communities recently received a grant to address such issues affecting the deaf, hard of hearing and other cultural minorities.
"It's not just an issue of availability within a system to get an interpreter. We have to make sure a nurse, a doctor or other staffer in a given health care system recognizes this need, and knows when to make use of it appropriately," said Shawn LaFrance, the foundation's director.
Huh? Jazzy? I read your post. Your skill is fine with anyone. You are not illiterated, you are literated cuz you can read and type here! Don't tell me you can't write, Jazzy. 
