Another Doctor / hospital - No interpreters and "dropping the ball" - LONG
- Thread starter jcandpcb
- Start date
Wirelessly posted
Sorry. I'm doing this from my phone. not really sure how to do it properly...
what I had said was sue them and find an activist in you area to help you. another thing I had said was that stories like this is why I want to do a double major at CSUN, being a terp and an activist for the community in my area. Good luck
jpcwa said:
Sorry. I'm doing this from my phone. not really sure how to do it properly...
what I had said was sue them and find an activist in you area to help you. another thing I had said was that stories like this is why I want to do a double major at CSUN, being a terp and an activist for the community in my area. Good luck
Update -
Hi and thanks for all of your responses. Since I first started this thread we had several more "bad" experiences. I filed a complaints with the DOJ per my local advocacy office. After I finally saw the Neurosurgeon that my Neurologist referred me to (they would not schedule my appointment or tell me my appointment date until they confirmed they had the interpreter scheduled) I decided I was not comfortable with him performing the surgery I needed. He described the surgery as a day surgery - maybe one overnight in hospital when all of my research said minimum of 3 days - up to a week - at least 24 hours in ICU - it is BRAIN surgery after all. Top it off, he only operated at the hospital that never provided the interp or assistive or anything after repeated requests for when my mother was hospitalized for 3 months. I had a good surgical experience but traveled 6 hours out of state. I was too sick to travel back to have my sutures removed and was told my Nuerologist would be able to remove them. They refused - they dismissed my symptoms - I was in agonizing pain and vomitting, threw some cymbalta samples at me and told me they were sending me to pain management. I ended up having my sutures removed a few days later at urgent care - never made it to the pain management appointment as I was rushed to hospital via ambulance 7 Nov with aseptic meningitis. Now THIS hospital was WONDERFUL in terms of interpreting. Within an hour of asking an ER nurse, we had the relay computer set up and available for all my sessions with the doctors. My Nuerologist office led me to believe that the Neurosurgeon they referred me to was the only option I had - I found out later I could have opted for another surgeon within that office that did the surgery at Memorial hospital, not St. Joe's. My discharge papers in Nov had me set up with a new Neurologist - in Dec I requested my records and cancelled an appointment they had set up for me without me knowing about it and attached copy of my discharge instructions that I was to see Dr. XX at a new office. The new office couldn't make the appointment without my records and release from the other practice. Long story short - I consulted an atty - who is a CODA and specializes in ADA, it's now Feb, I stll do NOT have my records, nor does the new office - I have emails from the old office that says they faxed them (personally) but now are blaming records department for dropping ball. My DH who was supposed to deploy was put in rear D because of the complications. The doc office and practice where I first requested the interpreter made so many mistakes and I was refused to be seen without an interpreter.
My legal team feels we have a case, and we're having a teleconference next week to see how to proceed. I hope we can have this practice at the very least set up VRS interpreter services at all their offices. I know it's not the preferred method but there is a shortage of interpreters in my area now - My husband didn't deploy which means we lost extra income and opportunity for his career advancement. This was not our choice - I feel guilty and I know it's partly because I got so sick.
I would really like to see more education for services for late deafened or hard of hearing people who don't know sign.
Hi and thanks for all of your responses. Since I first started this thread we had several more "bad" experiences. I filed a complaints with the DOJ per my local advocacy office. After I finally saw the Neurosurgeon that my Neurologist referred me to (they would not schedule my appointment or tell me my appointment date until they confirmed they had the interpreter scheduled) I decided I was not comfortable with him performing the surgery I needed. He described the surgery as a day surgery - maybe one overnight in hospital when all of my research said minimum of 3 days - up to a week - at least 24 hours in ICU - it is BRAIN surgery after all. Top it off, he only operated at the hospital that never provided the interp or assistive or anything after repeated requests for when my mother was hospitalized for 3 months. I had a good surgical experience but traveled 6 hours out of state. I was too sick to travel back to have my sutures removed and was told my Nuerologist would be able to remove them. They refused - they dismissed my symptoms - I was in agonizing pain and vomitting, threw some cymbalta samples at me and told me they were sending me to pain management. I ended up having my sutures removed a few days later at urgent care - never made it to the pain management appointment as I was rushed to hospital via ambulance 7 Nov with aseptic meningitis. Now THIS hospital was WONDERFUL in terms of interpreting. Within an hour of asking an ER nurse, we had the relay computer set up and available for all my sessions with the doctors. My Nuerologist office led me to believe that the Neurosurgeon they referred me to was the only option I had - I found out later I could have opted for another surgeon within that office that did the surgery at Memorial hospital, not St. Joe's. My discharge papers in Nov had me set up with a new Neurologist - in Dec I requested my records and cancelled an appointment they had set up for me without me knowing about it and attached copy of my discharge instructions that I was to see Dr. XX at a new office. The new office couldn't make the appointment without my records and release from the other practice. Long story short - I consulted an atty - who is a CODA and specializes in ADA, it's now Feb, I stll do NOT have my records, nor does the new office - I have emails from the old office that says they faxed them (personally) but now are blaming records department for dropping ball. My DH who was supposed to deploy was put in rear D because of the complications. The doc office and practice where I first requested the interpreter made so many mistakes and I was refused to be seen without an interpreter.
My legal team feels we have a case, and we're having a teleconference next week to see how to proceed. I hope we can have this practice at the very least set up VRS interpreter services at all their offices. I know it's not the preferred method but there is a shortage of interpreters in my area now - My husband didn't deploy which means we lost extra income and opportunity for his career advancement. This was not our choice - I feel guilty and I know it's partly because I got so sick.
I would really like to see more education for services for late deafened or hard of hearing people who don't know sign.
MotionInSilver
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I'm saddened to hear that anybody has to go though the anguish. No body has to go through this if people would follow common sense in following rules. Go you girl, make them own up to their mistakes. I'm so sorry this stupid crap happened.
To respond to someones comment about 2 weeks prior asking for interpreters. HELL NO. No deaf person has to wait 2 weeks to get into their doctors that they paid for through with their insurance. Every deaf person has the same right as any hearing person who is in pain to get an interpreter no matter on the length.
We're all human beings that will get hurt or sick whatever, we can't tell our bodies "oh wait you need to wait 2 weeks before we can go to a doctor" that comment makes NO sense at all.
AND its headache just to deal with insurance alone with referrals and going to doctor after doctor its all a freaking conspiracy on their part! 5 minute and $50 dollar copay visit after waiting 1 hour in waiting room. How messed up is that! To get 3x more doctors before I get the right specialist. Its already time consuming and the last thing we deaf people want to do is deal with the more delays due to interpreters. So I dont think its fair to say 2 weeks is reasonable. Its not reasonable when we have series of doctors to go to by the time my illiness would be 5x worst in 2 months and a little thing could easily be prevented only if I was hearing. The health care system is already messed up beyond what we all know. As far as I'm concerned, hitting them where the money is will only get their attention, its sad but people have to do lawsuits to make them understand it'll hurt them as well.
To respond to someones comment about 2 weeks prior asking for interpreters. HELL NO. No deaf person has to wait 2 weeks to get into their doctors that they paid for through with their insurance. Every deaf person has the same right as any hearing person who is in pain to get an interpreter no matter on the length.
We're all human beings that will get hurt or sick whatever, we can't tell our bodies "oh wait you need to wait 2 weeks before we can go to a doctor" that comment makes NO sense at all.
AND its headache just to deal with insurance alone with referrals and going to doctor after doctor its all a freaking conspiracy on their part! 5 minute and $50 dollar copay visit after waiting 1 hour in waiting room. How messed up is that! To get 3x more doctors before I get the right specialist. Its already time consuming and the last thing we deaf people want to do is deal with the more delays due to interpreters. So I dont think its fair to say 2 weeks is reasonable. Its not reasonable when we have series of doctors to go to by the time my illiness would be 5x worst in 2 months and a little thing could easily be prevented only if I was hearing. The health care system is already messed up beyond what we all know. As far as I'm concerned, hitting them where the money is will only get their attention, its sad but people have to do lawsuits to make them understand it'll hurt them as well.
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sorry hear you terribles, you worst to sound look likes emotional and.. I understood.. hard your manage your cope! emotional It is pretty difficult for you. it is not easy, how feeling you hurt reason! serious! very serious! lots of things your hard things!