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The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) requires hospitals to provide effective communication with patients who are deaf. For deaf individuals who communicate sign language, a qualified sign language interpreter may be required. An ASL interpreter will be sufficient in most medical situations not involving the profoundly deaf.
Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) uses videoconferencing equipment, HIPAA compliant encrypted software, and the Internet to connect a video interpreter in a remote location, usually a call center, with the doctor and deaf patient in the hospital or medical office. VRI is a useful alternative in a number of settings including hospitals, medical offices, mental health facilities, police stations, prisons, schools, and workplaces.
Many medical settings require an on-site sign language interpreter proficient in medical terminology to meet the needs of the medical staff and deaf patient. For the ones that do not, VRI is a fast, convenient, and less costly alternative.
Situations where VRI can meet special hospital needs:
1. Emergencies. When time is of the essence, VRI can bridge the gap until a local interpreter arrives on-site.
2. Routine Office Visits. For short office visits, VRI should be your first choice. Why pay a local interpreter a two-hour minimum for a 15 minute assignment.
3. Discharge. You want your deaf patient to know what medications to take and when to return. Again, for short discharge instructions, VRI is an economical alternative.
4. Immediate Need. You need an interpreter now and don't have time to wait an hour for one to arrive. VRI is available 24/7 at the click of a mouse.
5. Staff Interpreter Not Available. Large hospitals may have sign language interpreters on staff. But "terps" are human too. Your staff interpreter may be with a different patient, may be home with a sick child, or may have broken down on the way to the hospital. VRI can be your sub.
6. Remote Locations. Your clinic may serve a rural population located far from the nearest qualified interpreter. VRS providers have hired away many sign language interpreters leaving communities with a shortage. No matter where you are in the world, if you have a webcam and a broadband Internet connection, your deaf patients can be served.
7. Secure Locations. Not every part of your facility is readily accessible even to your on-site or staff interpreters.
Not all medical situations are suitable for VRI, but for the ones that are, VRI will keep your hospital ADA and HIPAA compliant, serve your deaf patients, and save money at the same time.
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Charles Lamm is the legal/technical consultant for Accessible Communication for the Deaf, a sign language interpreting agency providing VRI and on-site community interpreters in South Florida and the Tampa Bay area. -
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