The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #39531

Andrea Jordan, Interpretive Services Specialist, Customer Services, Montefiore Medical Center, 111 E 210th Street, Bronx, NY 10467, (718) 920-5942 V/TTY, ajordan@montefiore.org and Michelle Nashleanas, PhD, Medical Student, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, 1300 Morris Park Ave #387, Bronx, NY 10461.

In the ten years since the passing of the ADA, it has become clear that current methods for obtaining sign language interpreting for deaf patients in urban areas (i.e. areas with few-many local interpreters) are frequently unsatisfactory, both in terms of efficiency and current legal mandates. The barriers to providing interpreting, seen both from the deaf/hard of hearing patient’s and the health care provider’s point of view, can be modeled by use of interpreting in Emergency Departments (EDs). The use of qualified sign language interpreters in EDs relies on the staff knowing how to contact the interpreter(s) and the length of time it takes to implement the services. The interpreter must travel to the hospital and locate the appropriate healthcare professional and the patient. This method is time consuming and difficult to implement in large urban EDs, even when local interpreters are available. Recently, the use of teleconference interpreting has been shown to be an effective mode of providing interpreting in areas in which there is no local interpreter (Barnett, et al.). The use of one teleconference interpreting service, DeafTalk Inc., has enjoyed complete integration by health care providers, encouraging use of the interpreting service after some financial investment by the hospital. Recently, Montefiore Medical Center integrated DeafTalk into its’ ED, with immediate use by ASL-using Deaf/hard of hearing patients on the first day of it’s contract. The process of integrating DeafTalk into the Montefiore system will be discussed as a model for other major metropolitan hospitals, with cost/benefit comparisons to use of in-person interpreting services, customer satisfaction, as well as provider satisfaction.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, the participant (learner) will be ablet to

• Identify teleconference interpreting as a viable alternative to in-person interpreting in ED and unscheduled health care visits by people who use ASL as their primary mode of communication.
• Discuss the difficulties in integrating interpreting in the ED, including training of staff and locating interpreters.
• Recognize that patient and provider satisfaction are enhanced when the method of obtaining interpreting is streamlined and able to satisfy the communication needs of health care providers and their walk-in patients with hearing loss.

Keywords: Access to Health Care, Interpreters

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: DeafTalk
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.