The Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) calls for medical facilities to offer real communication with patients who are deaf. For deaf persons who communicate using sign language, a experienced sign language interpreter may be vital. 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 high-speed Internet to link a video interpreter in a distant location, ordinarily a call center, with the health professional and deaf patient in the hospital or medical facility. Video Remote Interpreting is a handy substitute in a number of settings including hospitals, medical facilities, mental health offices, police stations, prisons, colleges, and government workplaces.
Many medical situations require an local sign language interpreter skilled in medical terminology to satisfy the requirements of the medical staff and deaf patient. Sign language interpreters proficient in medical signs can be requested from many Video Remote Interpreting agencies even if not readily available in your district.
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. Once more, for brief discharge directives, Video Remote Interpreting is an practical alternative.
4. Urgent Need. You want an interpreter at this time and don't have time to delay for an hour for one to arrive. VRI is available 24/7 at the click of a mouse.
5. Staff Interpreter Not Available. Major hospitals may have sign language interpreters as employees. However "terps" are human too. Your staff interpreter may be with a different patient, may be home with an ill child, or may have broken down on the way to the facility. Video Remote Interpreting can be your alternative.
6. Remote Locations. Your clinic may serve a rural populace positioned far from the closest skilled interpreter. Video Relay Services companies have employed a number of sign language interpreters leaving communities with a deficiency. 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. Every location with Internet can now be served by ASL interpreters who need not be exposed to communicable diseases.
Not all medical settings are suitable for Video Remote Interpreting, but for the ones that are, VRI will keep your hospital ADA and HIPAA compliant, help your deaf patients, and save money at the same time.
tags:
Video Remote Interpreting,sign language interpreting services,VRI,sign language interpreter,sign language interpreting service,sign language interpreters,sign language interpreting,asl interpreter,deaf interpreter,ASL,american sign language interpreters,sign language interpreting agency,hearing impaired,HIPAA,ADA
Author Resource:
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Charles Lamm is the legal/technical consultant for Accessible Communication for the Deaf (ACD ), a sign language interpreting agency providing on-site, community interpreters in South Florida and the Tampa Bay area and VRI interpreters nationwide 24/7.
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