The past 20 years have seen the establishment of medical services specifically directed to people who are deaf. Special consideration of the communication, cultural, and medical issues affecting this population are necessary in initiating such programs. We will report on experiences in establishing several clinical sites providing services to patients who are Deaf in Chicago, Illinois. Our discussion will include various means by which input was solicited from the deaf community to determine needs and preferences, including the use of surveys, focus groups, and contacts with individuals and other organizations. Issues addressed include: providing communication in American Sign Language; interpretation issues; telephone/telecommunication access; assessment of community needs; special medical needs of the community; outreach and service promotion; staffing issues; integration of services; and financial considerations. In addition to the presentation regarding these planning steps, initial experiences and statistics from the new clinical sites will be presented. The discussion will emphasize practical application of the findings from this process, as well as unexpected problems. We will also comment on issues pertinent to sub-populations of the deaf community.
Learning Objectives: 1. List issues to be considered in establishing medical services for people who are deaf. 2. Analyze the effectiveness of various techniques to solicit input from the deaf community on services. 3. Discuss the organization of a site delivering clinical services to people who are deaf, taking into account the identified issues and the input of the community.
Keywords: Deaf Patients, Health Care Delivery
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Access Community Health Network, Chicago, Illinois
Sinai Health System, Chicago, Illinois
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: employment