Effective Communication in Hospitals

Good medical care depends upon effective communication between you and your provider(s). Ineffective communication can lead to improper diagnosis and delayed or improper medical treatment. If you have limited English proficiency or are deaf or hard-of-hearing, you may require interpreters or other services to help you communicate effectively with your healthcare providers.

Many hospitals are actively taking steps to improve effective communication. However, hospitals face increasing challenges to meet the communication needs of an increasingly diverse population. To help hospitals meet these challenges; OCR is making information, resources, and tools available to healthcare organizations that assist people with limited English proficiency and people who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Effective Communication Resources for Health Providers

Compliance Activities

Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR)
Content last reviewed