1. Hospitals and Hearing LossThe Hard of Hearing Are Still at Risk inSome Hospitals!

2. Hospitals: Scary and Confusing[Insert Video here] 3. The Growing Problem of Silence About 9% ofAnywhere from 2 Americans or overto 8 million 21 million people Americans are have hearingcompletely deaf.problems.Between 1971 and More than 20 1991 we saw amillion of those 53% increase in have hearinghearing problemsproblems.in the aging.Deafness or loss Almost half theof hearing is thehearing problems single most are significant. chronic disability in America. 4. Hearing and Health About a third of hearing problemscome from other health problems. A significant number of deaf peoplehave complex medical issues thatcontributed to their deafness. 5. A Compound ProblemHealth problems Deafness 6. A ConfusingPlace No way tocommunicate Anundertrainedstaff A greaterchance ofmistakes incare 7. The Danger for the Deaf 8. Preventable Adverse Effects Significantly morelikely among thosewith communicationproblems likedeafness A preventableadverse event isdefined as anunintended injury orcomplication causedby the delivery ofhealth care 9. Common Adverse Effects Drug related Inappropriatetreatment Treatment delays Failure to monitora patientscondition The deafexperience morethan one event 10. The Underlying Problem The underlyingproblem iscommunicationbetween deafpatients andhealth careprofessionals. 11. The Heart of Medicine Theconversationbetween thedoctor andpatient is theheart ofmedicine. 12. Effective Diagnosis and Treatment A thorough medical history happens through a thorough conversation between a doctor and patient. Good patient doctor communication is fundamental to good healthcare. 13. Deaf Healthcare Communication Extraordinarilydifficult for thedeaf tocommunicate inhealthcaresettings The Result: Inadequate care Inappropriate care Care that harms 14. The BIG Issue Oralcommunicationfor the deaf Deaf peoplenot included inthe process Needs areignored 15. Hearing Aid Affordability Becoming asignificant issuefor the deaf Fewer canafford hearingaids Communicationdifficultiesresult 16. Challenges Deaf People FaceLower Income Level Lower literacy Level 17. The DeafAmong the most vulnerable in our society 18. Almost 60 % of the. hearing impaired goto the doctor more often: Higher health Due to unresolved costs medical problems More healthcareA lack of Inability to resolve understanding from health issue prior visit More health risksNegative Outcomes for Deaf Patients 19. Poor Healthcare is Illegal 20. The Americans with Disabilities Act 21. What the Law Says for Deaf PeopleThe Hospital MustProvide: A sign languageinterpreter Note takers Written materials Assistive livingdevices Health care mustbe equallyaccessible 22. Persistent Hospital Problems for the DeafLack of UnderstandingLack of Preparedness Yet many doctors stilldont understand theneeds of deaf patients. Some hospitals stillarent prepared toreally level the playingfield in their facilities. 23. The Americans with Disabilities ActHospital Staff Uninformed Too Few Provisions Made 24. The Cost of Ignorance and NeglectHigher Than Assistive Healthcare Lawsuits and DevicesCosts Go Up 25. Assistive Devices Required The cost of thecommunicationsequipment is theresponsibility of thehospital. The law says its partof the cost of doingbusiness and not theresponsibility of thedisabled patient. 26. The High Cost of Doing Nothing However trying to save money by not providing deaf patients with equipment to communicate and staff members trained to use it can also raise the cost of care. 27. Preventable Adverse Hospital Events Half of all preventable adverse events happen tothe communication challenged 57% of those affected had to stay longer More than a third (35%) had to be re-admitted About a third (32%) were suffered minimalimpairment A tenth (10%) suffered moderate impairment (5%) experienced permanent impairment (6%) died from the adverse event Non-communication in healthcare is risky andcostly! 28. What Do Hospitals Need to Do? Provide assistivedevices for thedeaf Train staff to usethem Provide transferTeletypewriters(TTY) or VideoRelay calls (VRS)pocket talkers andCART 29. What Else Can Hospitals Do? Use patient ID oncharts Arrange for deafinterpreters Use wristbands,signs Special provisions Remove surgicalmasks 30. Deaf People Have Legal Rights! Everyone in thehospital systemneeds to know whena deaf or hard ofhearing person is ahospital patient Everyone needs tobe trained knowwhat to do to avoidadverse outcome 31. Deaf People Have Rights in Hospitals Hospital safetymakes happypatients! Reputation isimportant! The problem ofcommunicatingwith the deaf inhealthcaresettings is notgoing away! 32. The Baby-Boomers: A Hearing Loss Time Bomb Former PresidentBill Clinton: Oneof many baby-boomers who facehearing problems The numbers willincrease as babyboomers age 33. PREPARE FOR More Americans are THE FUTURElosing hearing at anearlier age 15% of school agechildren have hearingdeficits Young adults areshowing signs ofhearing impairment The trends are expectedto continue as babyboomers age. 34. Is Your Hospital Ready for the Future?