When we are in the doctor’s office, or any other healthcare setting, it is incredibly important that we are able to communicate clearly and effectively. Unfortunately, for the Deaf and those who are hard of hearing, if the healthcare facility does not have the proper technology to accommodate them, vital medical information can be missed. It also leads to inaccurate diagnosis and inefficient treatment. This can cause issues for patients who are hard of hearing in many healthcare settings including the emergency room where instructions and information must be given quickly and the doctor’s office where complicated medical terminology is used to explain potential procedures.
Let’s talk about the communication barriers that the Deaf and hard of hearing face when interacting in healthcare situations such as the doctor’s office and emergency room, and how to remove these barriers to healthcare.
Understanding Communication Barriers in Healthcare
Unfortunately, the Deaf and hard of hearing face significant barriers to communication when interacting in the healthcare setting. Barriers to communication such as inadequate or no access to sign language interpreters and limited understanding of Deaf Culture by healthcare professionals can cause delays in care or a misdiagnosis.
While hospitals are required by law under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act, often called the ADA, to provide patients and their families with translators, they are not always provided. The most common reasons why interpreters are not provided include a shortage of interpreters available and a lack of ADA knowledge among healthcare workers. This often leads patients and healthcare workers to rely on written communication which can be slow and also leaves room for misinterpretation, which can cause a misdiagnosis.
Healthcare workers who do not understand Deaf Culture may not be sensitive to the needs of the Deaf, which can reduce the quality of health care that the Deaf patient receives.
Importance of Technology in Healthcare Accessibility
Thankfully, advances in technology have had a significant impact on the way that the Deaf community can communicate with friends who are hearing. Many of the most important technologies that removed some of the communication barriers for the Deaf were related to the mobile phone.
It started with the invention of text messaging which gave the Deaf an easy and convenient way to communicate. Text messaging also allows the Deaf to have privacy while having a conversation in public without the risk of someone eavesdropping on the conversation and also removes the need for dedicated TTY devices.
With 85% of people in the US owning a smartphone, using a mobile app such as Brig’d can enhance communication accessibility in the healthcare setting by minimizing delays in care and miscommunication.
Mobile apps have not only had a significant impact on the deaf community but it has unlimited potential to improve since both hardware and software continue to advance, leading to updates and new features consistently being released which means that Brig’d will only get better.
We know once you try Bridg’d, you will love how easy it is to communicate with those who do not know sign language. Try Bridg’d free for 7 days and see for yourself.
Common Communication Barriers in Healthcare Scenarios
Here are some of the common communication barriers that come up in healthcare scenarios.
Emergency Room
When you are seeking emergency care, seconds matter, and any delay or miscommunication due to a communication barrier can have catastrophic results. Another issue that a communication barrier may present is limited informed consent due to the healthcare provider’s inability to explain the medical condition or the different treatment options to the patient who is hard of hearing.
Post-Treatment
If you are having surgery or other medical procedures, there will be important instructions that the physician will need you to follow. These instructions can often be complicated and important details can be missed, resulting in negative health outcomes.
Related: Empathy in Action: Communicating with Nonverbal Patients
Visits to the Doctor
A communication barrier can also present a problem during even routine visits to see the doctor. Your time with the doctor is usually limited to the appointment length so without a rapid way of communicating in real-time, you may not be able to ask important questions that you need answered.
Things can be further complicated when medical terminology gets used, which is complicated enough without a communication barrier. Many healthcare professionals do not have the ability to explain in a clear and understandable manner to the Deaf, which can cause misunderstanding and frustration.
Related: Discover the Latest Communication Devices for Deaf Indiividuals
Our Assistive Mobile App: Features and Benefits
The Bridg’d mobile app solves many of the issues that the Deaf experience in the healthcare setting by providing an easy way to communicate with friends who are hearing, even if they do not know sign language. You can type in text or use Quick Replies, pre-loaded commonly used responses, which will be converted into verbal speech at the push of a button. All the healthcare provider has to do is reply verbally to the phone and the Bridg’d app will automatically convert it into text that can be ready in real-time as they speak.
Bridg’d allow patients who are hard of hearing to have real-time conversations with healthcare workers and provide fast and accurate information that can be used to provide an accurate diagnosis. It also saves conversations so that if you forget the answer to a question that you asked a doctor, you just have to check your saved conversations to find it out without having to contact the doctor again, saving time and giving peace of mind to both doctors and patients.
Related: Embracing Deaf Culture: A Journey into Sign Language
Overcoming Barriers: App Implementation in Healthcare
Implementing the Bridg’d app in healthcare facilities will significantly enhance accessibility and can be done with virtually no downtime since it can be downloaded onto mobile devices as long as they are connected to the internet. The Bridg’d app will shine in any practice with electronic medical record systems or in the triage department of the emergency room where vital medical information must be exchanged accurately and rapidly.
Collaboration for Improved Accessibility
Improving accessibility requires the collaboration of healthcare facilities, technology providers, and the Deaf community. Healthcare facilities have a legal obligation to ensure that the Deaf community has equal access to care, and should work closely with technology providers to break down communication barriers.
The Deaf community should also provide as much feedback to both technology providers and healthcare facilities so that they can share valuable insight that can improve the patient experience for the hard of hearing.
Future of Communication Accessibility
The Bridg’d app will only get better and more intuitive as technology advances and feedback from the Deaf community is used to improve features that will be released in the future. We are proudly committed to growing to meet the needs of the Deaf and hard of hearing.
Want to learn about all the ways that Bridg’d can enhance your ability to communicate and improve your access to healthcare? Learn all about the app here.
Final Thoughts
Whether you are a member of the Deaf community or you are a healthcare provider, having Bridg’d on your mobile device will make sure that barriers to communication are torn down and improve healthcare accessibility. Download Bridg’d today and see how we are revolutionizing healthcare access for the Deaf and hard of hearing.
