• E-mail
• Print
• Comment
• Font Size
• Digg
• del.icio.us
• Discuss article

NJHA, N.J. Attorney General's Office Endorse Increased Access toInterpreter Services For Deaf and Hard of Hearing

Posted on: Monday, 5 December 2005, 15:00 CST

TRENTON, N.J. Dec. 5/ U.S. Newswire/ -- The New Jersey Hospital Association and the state Attorney General's Office today jointly released a resource guide on how hospitals can better utilize various interpreter services for the deaf and hard of hearing. This document, combined with a comprehensive education program, will ensure that hospitals are fully accessible to everyone, including people who can't hear or have difficulty hearing.

"This guide spells out the resources and tools for a standardized statewide approach to providing interpreter services for the deaf and hard of hearing," stated Valerie Sellers, senior vice president of Healthcare Planning and Research for NJHA. "Hospitals continue to be responsive to the needs of the deaf and hard of hearing, but now our industry can all work from the same page in providing consistent communications with these patients and their families."

The resource guide, Interpreter Services for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing, calls for hospitals to reinforce their obligation to provide reasonable accommodations to assist the deaf and hard of hearing in communicating with hospital staff. Federal and state law requires hospitals to ensure that the needs of the individual are identified and efforts are made to meet those needs.

These accommodations may include auxiliary aids and services such as qualified sign language interpreters, remote video interpreting devices, amplified phones, television closed captioning and computer assisted listening devices, among others. There is a critical need for hospitals to recruit added qualified and certified interpreters to ensure timely availability when needed, especially after hours and on weekends.

"Adults and children who are deaf or hard of hearing must be able to effectively communicate with doctors and nurses to explain their illness or injury," said Attorney General Peter C. Harvey. "I credit New Jersey's hospital community for recognizing that a disparity has existed and that it can do a better job of serving the needs of deaf and hard of hearing persons."

NJHA officials have identified model programs within New Jersey and other states that will assist hospitals in improving their own initiatives. The guide also contains information on reimbursement, technology and suggestions on resolving challenges that may arise from offering these services.

"It is estimated that more than 720,000 people in New Jersey are either deaf or hard of hearing," said Albert L. Gutierrez, president and chief executive officer of Shore Memorial Hospital and chairman of the NJHA Interpreter/Translation Service Task Force. "As healthcare professionals we have an obligation to ensure effective communication with our patients. Clear communication is a key component in providing appropriate medical care. This guide is a great resource in helping accommodate the needs of these patients and their families."

The NJHA task force was comprised of representatives from hospitals, state programs, the Attorney General's Office and patient advocates and has worked cooperatively with the state to develop enhanced services.

Along with educating and training hospital staff on how to access and utilize the various resources, NJHA will continue to work with Medicare and Medicaid, commercial health plans and managed care programs to seek reimbursement for some of the more costly technologies involved in serving these populations. Hospitals may not charge patients for the various services provided.

Based in Princeton, N.J., the association has been providing its 112 members with advocacy, information, data, research and education since 1918.

http://www.usnewswire.com

Source: U.S. Newswire

More News in this Category