Hearing-Impaired Patients Use Video Conferencing To Communicate With Medical Personnel In Hospitals
Sony IPELA visual communications teams with Deaf-Talk Interpreting to offer a unique solution for the medical community
Hearing-impaired visitors to hospital emergency rooms are now able to effectively communicate their symptoms with medical personnel through the use of video conferencing and remote sign language services. As a result, emergency room personnel can have 24-hour access to a Deaf-Talk interpreter who can relay the patient's symptoms to hospital staff. In addition to reducing delays in diagnosis or treatment, an important factor when a few minutes can sometimes mean the difference between life and death, the program also makes it easier for hospitals to comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act which requires hospitals and physicians to provide an ASL interpreter upon request for a hearing-impaired patient.
This solution enables access to on-demand American Sign Language (ASL) video interpreting services provided by Deaf-Talk, LLC, which are transmitted by Sony Electronics' IPELA PSC-TL33 all-in-one compact video conferencing system.
"Throughout much of the United States, the availability of on-site or agency ASL interpreters can be limited and video interpreting is often the best solution," said Robert W. Fisher, President, DT Interpreting and Deaf-Talk, LLC. "There is no replacement for an on-site ASL interpreter, however visual communications provides the next best alternative, offering a user-friendly, practical accommodation that addresses a range of vital healthcare needs."
The technology of the Sony PCS-TL33 is particularly well-suited to this video interpreting program for hospitals. The compact size of the unit means that it can be quickly and easily moved from room to room (for example, from emergency room to post-op). Additionally, the system's easy-to-use interface means that staff throughout the hospital can operate the system with minimal learning curve. The Sony/Deaf-Talk system is currently in use at more than 300 hospitals across the United States.
