Friday, October 20, 2023
8:45 – 9:00AM (CT)
Welcome Session
9:00 – 10:00AM (CT)
Armchair Discussion: Defining Equitable and Accessible Care for Deaf and Hard of Hearing Individuals
Caroline Koo, Dr. Christopher Moreland, Juana Poareo, and Shannon Shiver
Considering Deaf and hard of hearing individuals are 6.9 times more likely to have inadequate health literacy, it is paramount that healthcare professionals and administrators identify opportunities to advance the quality, safety and experience of the healthcare continuum for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing individuals. Ensuring this community has access to equitable and accessible care is the ultimate goal. But what are the components that contribute to equitable and accessible care? This armchair conversation aims to answer this question in depth.
Participants will be able to:
- List a minimum of two ways that inequitable care manifests in healthcare settings for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing individuals;
- List a minimum of two ways that inaccessible care manifests in healthcare settings for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing individuals; and
- Outline a minimum of two strategies that can be implemented within healthcare organizations to drive equitable and accessible care.
10:15 – 11:15AM (CT)
Dear Colleagues: The Need to Meet ADA Requirements
Shawn Norris
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has investigated and enforced ADA regulations against healthcare providers for failing to comply with effective communication requirements for Deaf and hard of hearing individuals. As a means of ascertaining healthcare providers adhere to these requirements, the DOJ sent a “Dear Colleagues” letter in April 2023 that included a high-level overview of common compliance issues identified in their investigations, as well as contributing factors the DOJ believed was increasing healthcare organizations’ likeliness to fail to meet ADA requirements. The presenter will discuss all the above in greater detail and provide healthcare professionals and administrators with insight and actionable solutions designed to mitigate compliance issues.
Participants will be able to:
- List a minimum of five common compliance issues the DOJ identified during their investigations;
- Detail a minimum of three components that should be used in policies and procedures pertaining to effective communication; and
- List a minimum of three elements that should be incorporated as a part of ADA-related staff training.
11:30AM – 12:30PM (CT)
Panel Discussion: Deaf and Hard of Hearing-Centered Patient and Family Advisory Councils
Karen Schaefer, Jackie Beckerman and Malvina Gregory
Active and productive patient and family advisory councils (PFACs) offer a forum for healthcare professionals and administrators to obtain ideas, input and insight from PFAC members to guide decision-making regarding initiatives impacting patient care. As the needs and preferences of the Deaf and hard of hearing community is different from that of the greater disability community, it is important to have Deaf and Hard of Hearing PFACs. During this panel discussion, the panelists will discuss the function, objectives and benefits of their respective organization’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing-Centered PFACs, all with the goal of helping other organizations advance the quality, safety and experience of the healthcare continuum for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing individuals.
Participants will be able to:
- List a minimum of two pathways to create a Deaf and Hard of Hearing-Centered PFAC within their organization; and
- Outline a minimum of three ways a Deaf and Hard of Hearing-Centered PFAC could impact their respective organization.
12:30 – 1:45 PM (CT)
Exhibit Hall / Lunch
1:45 – 2:45PM (CT)
Panel Discussion: Effective Provision of ASL Interpreting Services
Carla Fogaren, Morgan Underwood and Rosemary Ford
Recognizing the Deaf and hard of hearing community’s diverse language needs and preferences, this panel discussion aims to provide tangible solutions and strategies for healthcare organizations to not only adhere to minimum requirements as required by law, but to drive optimal patient encounters with the provision of ASL-English interpretation services. Furthermore, as the geographic sites of care that the panelists’ respective teams support varies, participants will benefit from a holistic discussion around the nuances of coordinating the provision of interpretation services.
Participants will be able to:
- Identify a minimum of two strategies used to screen and assess interpreters;
- Identify a minimum of two techniques used to determine whether staff, freelance and/or agency interpreters shall be used; and
- List a minimum of three scenarios where Deaf interpreters should be present during patient encounters.
1:45 – 2:45PM (CT)
Cultural Humility: Exploring its Impact on Patient Experiences
Dr. Ashley Walker and Corey Axelrod
During this session, we will discuss how healthcare professionals working with Deaf and hard of hearing patients and companions can ensure interactions are culturally sensitive and appropriate. We will take a deep dive into Deaf culture and combine this with practical, real-life stories and situations to help healthcare professionals appropriately respond to the varying needs of Deaf and hard of hearing individuals while maintaining a professional level of respect, objectivity and identity.
Participants attending this session will be able to:
- List a minimum of two ways Deaf and hard of hearing individuals’ sociocultural experiences may be impacted in healthcare settings;
- Describe a minimum of three language differences, body language and expressions of emotions;
- Apply a minimum of three techniques and strategies to effectively identify possible challenges Deaf and hard of hearing patients and companions may encounter due to cultural and communication differences; and
- Implement a minimum of two strategies to bridge communication and cultural gaps between Deaf/hard of hearing individuals and hearing healthcare providers.
3:00 – 4:00PM (CT)
Auxiliary Aids and Services: Best Practices in Healthcare Settings
Adam Rademacher and Carla Fogaren
This workshop will focus on how to ascertain Deaf, Hard of Hearing, DeafBlind individuals have access to effective communication when accessing healthcare via the provision of a comprehensive suite of auxiliary aids and services. We will initially discuss health care providers and facilities’ legal and regulatory obligations to provide auxiliary aids and services. From there, we will share some best practices that can immediately be utilized and operationalized in healthcare facilities, doctors’ office, and clinics to ensure that effective communication takes place, regardless of whether healthcare organizations have one location or multiple sites of care. We will provide various tools and examples on what steps to take to ensure that persons with disabilities, including persons who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing or DeafBlind, have an equal opportunity to access services, activities, programs, and other benefits.
Participants attending this session will be able to:
- Understand the legal and compliance requirements for effective communication with individuals who are Deaf, Hard of Hearing, or DeafBlind in healthcare settings.
- Understand the availability and proper utilization of auxiliary aids and services which can reduce communication barriers and share best practices to ensure effective communication.
4:15 – 5:15PM (CT)
Armchair Discussion: Together Towards Excellence
Corey Axelrod, Dr. Kristi Kirschner and Dr. Shazia Siddiqi
To close the 2023 Deaf and Hard of Hearing Experiences in Healthcare Summit, this armchair discussion aims to serve as a follow-up to the initial armchair discussion, as well as sessions throughout the summit, that discuss the need for and importance of providing access to equitable and accessible care. Specifically, this armchair discussion will discuss the responsibilities of various stakeholder groups, including healthcare organizations, healthcare education programs, community and non-profit organizations, and healthcare-related professional associations, in moving beyond the status quo and ascertaining equitable and accessible care.
Participants will be able to:
- List a minimum of how systems of oppression, including marginalization, ableism and audism, may impact the patient experience for Deaf, DeafBlind and hard of hearing individuals; and
- List a minimum of three strategies that stakeholder groups can utilize to ascertain equitable and accessible care at the individual, group and organizational levels.
5:15 – 5:30 PM (CT)
Wrap-up Session
