Miss-Delectable
New Member
- Joined
- Apr 18, 2004
- Messages
- 17,160
- Reaction score
- 7
Hospital News - Current Articles
Communication is vital in health care for patients of all backgrounds and cultures. Members of the deaf community, for example, do not see themselves as having a disability, but rather as a part of a group that communicates differently.
Many hearing people think they can effectively communicate with individuals who are deaf through the simple expedient of writing notes back and forth. However, note writing cannot guarantee understanding.
You may think you are getting your message across because a deaf patient smiles and nods his or her head in agreement. But this may not be true. In fact, many deaf patients have reported that they just pretend to read standardized consent forms, and then sign it anyway without really understanding what they are signing. Many people born deaf may only read and/or write at a third grade level.
For this reason, American Sign Language (ASL) is the most effective way for health care professionals to communicate with a person who is deaf. Even though hospitals have contracts with community agencies that provide an ASL interpreter, there may sometimes be a delay due to the availability of an interpreter and travel time for the interpreter.
Aiming to shorten the wait time and bridge the communication gap, Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital are working with DT Interpreting to provide on-demand ASL video teleconferencing. The on-demand ASL video service provides a nationally certified ASL interpreter within minutes through a secure communications line.
After you make the call to the DT Interpreting number, an ASL interpreter becomes visible to the patient and family on the TV monitor. The interpreter can see the patient and family through the video camera and monitor, and the communication among physicians, staff, patient and family occurs in real time.
The system uses Sony Video Communication technology and video screens. Each mobile unit consists of a camera, microphone, data compression/decompression device and software. Hardware is mounted on a compact mobile cart similar to a standard IV pole.
This communications system and advanced technology combine to provide an essential service for patients and their family members who are deaf, and also saves the emergency department staff time.
Lourdes Fernandez, a young woman who is deaf, had an opportunity to test the ASL interpreter while visiting Memorial Regional Hospital. Impressed by how quickly she was able to connect with an ASL interpreter, Ms. Fernandez explained, "This is great! So many times the doctor is ready to see you, but you have to wait for the interpreter to arrive at the hospital."
Sharon Suttell, who has a deaf son, made a recent trip to the Emergency Room with the 22-year-old. "Tim was so excited to see the interpreter and the monitor for the deaf patients. This way he did not miss a thing! To know that the hospital cared enough about the deaf to go to this expense makes us know they really care about the people," said Mrs. Suttell.
In our efforts to provide safer care, we need to understand how we can best communicate with individuals who have a hearing impairment. Under Title III of the American Disabilities Act, health care organizations are required by law to provide ASL interpreters.
DT Interpreting enables hospitals to provide effective, efficient communication, while enhancing the safety of patients and families who are deaf by promptly providing an ASL interpreter. We consider this an essential need and major stride. Communicating effectively supports Memorial Healthcare System’s number one pillar - SAFETY. Memorial Healthcare System wants to do the "best thing" for patients, and not just because it is the law. Because it’s right.
Communication is vital in health care for patients of all backgrounds and cultures. Members of the deaf community, for example, do not see themselves as having a disability, but rather as a part of a group that communicates differently.
Many hearing people think they can effectively communicate with individuals who are deaf through the simple expedient of writing notes back and forth. However, note writing cannot guarantee understanding.
You may think you are getting your message across because a deaf patient smiles and nods his or her head in agreement. But this may not be true. In fact, many deaf patients have reported that they just pretend to read standardized consent forms, and then sign it anyway without really understanding what they are signing. Many people born deaf may only read and/or write at a third grade level.
For this reason, American Sign Language (ASL) is the most effective way for health care professionals to communicate with a person who is deaf. Even though hospitals have contracts with community agencies that provide an ASL interpreter, there may sometimes be a delay due to the availability of an interpreter and travel time for the interpreter.
Aiming to shorten the wait time and bridge the communication gap, Memorial Regional Hospital and Joe DiMaggio Children’s Hospital are working with DT Interpreting to provide on-demand ASL video teleconferencing. The on-demand ASL video service provides a nationally certified ASL interpreter within minutes through a secure communications line.
After you make the call to the DT Interpreting number, an ASL interpreter becomes visible to the patient and family on the TV monitor. The interpreter can see the patient and family through the video camera and monitor, and the communication among physicians, staff, patient and family occurs in real time.
The system uses Sony Video Communication technology and video screens. Each mobile unit consists of a camera, microphone, data compression/decompression device and software. Hardware is mounted on a compact mobile cart similar to a standard IV pole.
This communications system and advanced technology combine to provide an essential service for patients and their family members who are deaf, and also saves the emergency department staff time.
Lourdes Fernandez, a young woman who is deaf, had an opportunity to test the ASL interpreter while visiting Memorial Regional Hospital. Impressed by how quickly she was able to connect with an ASL interpreter, Ms. Fernandez explained, "This is great! So many times the doctor is ready to see you, but you have to wait for the interpreter to arrive at the hospital."
Sharon Suttell, who has a deaf son, made a recent trip to the Emergency Room with the 22-year-old. "Tim was so excited to see the interpreter and the monitor for the deaf patients. This way he did not miss a thing! To know that the hospital cared enough about the deaf to go to this expense makes us know they really care about the people," said Mrs. Suttell.
In our efforts to provide safer care, we need to understand how we can best communicate with individuals who have a hearing impairment. Under Title III of the American Disabilities Act, health care organizations are required by law to provide ASL interpreters.
DT Interpreting enables hospitals to provide effective, efficient communication, while enhancing the safety of patients and families who are deaf by promptly providing an ASL interpreter. We consider this an essential need and major stride. Communicating effectively supports Memorial Healthcare System’s number one pillar - SAFETY. Memorial Healthcare System wants to do the "best thing" for patients, and not just because it is the law. Because it’s right.