I joined my radiologist in her office at a large medical system in my home city for our consultation appointment around a recent CT scan. The session was scheduled to share information about the source of pain that had begun to radiate across my shoulder and down my arm a few months before. I was nervous but hopeful as I settled into the chair in the specialist’s office. I opened the voice recognition app on my phone as I shared with her that captions would be there to add a margin of accuracy to our communications. The use of my captioning app was quickly ended by the physician; the accommodation was not permitted.
All too often, so many of us come to the task of seeking communication support during our healthcare experiences, only to learn that such support is not always front and center on the radar screens of many of the medical practices we use. Often, we feel puzzled; sometimes, we feel impatient and angry. The fact of the matter is that specific barriers prevent the integration of a smooth process for documenting the hearing status of patients and the communication aids and services that patients know will meet their individual needs for accuracy. Such barriers impact not only patients, but the providers who care for them and the medical systems from which healthcare is provided.
Here's the thing. Stakeholders - patients with hearing loss, medical providers and staff, administrators, and researchers - have the power to shape the path to achieving accurate communication in healthcare situations. To leverage such power effectively, we must recognize and prepare for the long game and commit to using a planful, determined approach to acquiring communication aids and services.
We have designed Healthcare with Hearing Loss to support consumers and other stakeholders in creating systems that encourage accurate, safe communication for patients with hearing loss. Our blogs will address:
Wayfinding: the proactive, intentional process of self-advocacy that includes planning and follow-through.
Reports from Public Health: insights from leading researchers and policymakers on hearing loss, barriers to access in healthcare, and new approaches.
Implementation Tools: best practices to support the efforts of patients, providers, and medical systems to overcome barriers.
Success Narratives: reports from stakeholders who are creating systems for improved communication access.
We believe that together we can impact the provision of communication aids and services in healthcare. Our next blog, Reflection, will explore one of the most important first steps in building a strong self- advocacy plan.
Peggy Ellertsen
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