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
- For Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
- For Persons with limited English proficiency
- From The Joint Commission: Improving Patient-Provider Communications (YouTube Video) Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, and disability:
