While telehealth has created new opportunities for healthcare access, significant barriers remain for Deaf, DeafBlind, and Hard of Hearing patients.
Communication access issues such as interpreter failures, inaccessible captioning, and unresolved communication barriers with providers can directly impact healthcare outcomes.
We’re sharing a brief video highlighting three red flags that may indicate a telehealth appointment was not accessible, along with actions patients can take to advocate for themselves.
Patients can file an official complaint about their telehealth experience directly with the Federal Communications Commission at www.fcc.gov/rdaform.
Stay Informed in ASL: We’ve got you covered! Sign up with your email at deafhealthaccess.org/sign-up or follow us on social media for new and current health updates.
This update is provided as part of the “Building Capacity for Deaf American Sign Language Users in Virtual Healthcare PCOR/CER” project, which is funded through a Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute (PCORI) Eugene Washington PCORI Engagement Award (EACB-35309). The views presented in this work are solely the responsibility of the author and do not necessarily represent the views of PCORI. To learn more about the project, visit: www.pcori.org/research-results/2024/building-capacity-deaf-american-sign-language-users-virtual-healthcare-pcorcer. For project updates, follow us on social media or sign up with your email at deafhealthaccess.org/sign-up.
Video Description & Transcript
[VD: The post has a video thumbnail with blue shading overlaid. The middle has a text bubble that reads “3 Signs Your Telehealth Visit Wasn’t Accessible” in white text with rose background. In the video: A white queer person with long curly hair, wearing a forest green top with a gold chain necklace. Bee, wearing their green/brown glasses, are signing to the camera.
Transcript:
Have you ever left a telehealth appointment feeling like you missed important information?
Deaf or Hard of Hearing? Here are 3 signs your telehealth appointment may not have been accessible.
-You requested an interpreter, but one wasn’t provided.
-Captions were missing, inaccurate, or difficult to follow.
-There was a communication problem, but the provider continued the appointment without fixing it.
These aren’t just inconveniences. They can affect your ability to understand important health information and make informed decisions about your care.
If this happens, document what happened and consider filing a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Accessible healthcare isn’t optional. It’s essential. [The screen fades to show a thumbnail of a faded white background of a doctor holding hands with another individual] Deaf. Healthy. DeafHealth. Learn more at www.deafhealthaccess.org.].]
