Background: American Sign Language (ASL) is the third most commonly used primary language in the United States. Communication between a deaf person who uses ASL and a clinician who is not ASL fluent is best facilitated by working with a medically experienced certified sign language interpreter. For many healthcare facilities, timely interpreter services can be difficult to obtain during a medical emergency, and many places do not have access to certified interpreters. The Videoconferencing Interpreting Program of the University of Rochester Medical Center uses high bandwidth videoconferencing equipment to bring sign language interpreter services to healthcare facilities outside of Rochester, NY.
Presentation: We will describe the background and development of this program through the trial phase at two hospital emergency departments and one family medicine residency office. We will present text excerpts from interviews with healthcare personnel, deaf patients and deaf family members of patients describing their experience of a remote-interpreted healthcare encounter. We will also present interpreters’ comments on the remote interpreting experience from a self-administered questionnaire. Presenters and session participants will discuss the implications of remote sign language interpreting on healthcare access and costs, as well as areas for future research.
Learning Objectives: The participant will be able to: 1. Appreciate the challenges of obtaining interpreter services. 2. Describe how some people experience interpreted and uninterpreted healthcare encounters. 3. Describe a sign language application of telehealth technology.
Keywords: Deaf, Telehealth
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: University of Rochester
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