Hartford (Conn.) HealthCare has partnered with the American School for the Deaf to improve the care experience for patients who are deaf and hard of hearing.
The American School for the Deaf will offer in-person and virtual interpreting services, assistive listening devices and note-takers for patients during routine appointments and emergency department visits. All services will be offered free of charge to patients, the Stamford Advocate reported Dec. 1.
The school employs 60 interpreters in Connecticut, most of whom are trained as medical interpreters, according to the publication. Hartford Healthcare has also hired a full-time American Sign Language medical interpreter through the partnership.
"It is our privilege ― and responsibility ― to meet the communication needs of those who rely on us as part of our work to promote the health and healing of all," Ajay Kumar, MD, executive vice president and chief clinical officer of Hartford HealthCare said in a Nov. 30 news release. "Clear communication is essential for quality and safe care. This is certainly the case in our own healthcare experiences, and we know this is true for all our patients."
Learn more here.