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