Effective Communication for Patients and Their Companions Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

To ensure effective communication with patients and their companions who are deaf or hard of hearing, we provide appropriate auxiliary aids and services free of charge, such as sign language and oral interpreters, video remote interpreting services, TTY or relay services, note takers, written materials, and televisions with caption capability.

If you are in a hospital, please ask your nurse or the Administrative/House Supervisor for assistance. If you are in a non-hospital location, please ask the office manager for assistance. You can contact the Administrative/House Supervisor at a hospital by calling your facility’s operator (voice or TTY) at the number below. The operator will page the Administrative/House Supervisor to assist you.

We will provide patients and their companions who require auxiliary aids or services with such assistance throughout the patient’s visit or admission as requested by the patient.

We respond to complaints and grievances in a timely and respectful manner. You can contact the Administrative/House Supervisor at a Covenant Health hospital at any time to resolve a concern about effective communication by calling your facility’s operator at the number above (voice or TTY). The operator will page the Administrative/House Supervisor to assist you. You may also file a grievance with the hospital and have your grievance reviewed and resolved by the Grievance Committee in a timely manner, usually within 7 days. A grievance form (“Patient Grievance Document”) is available to document your concern. The hospital will provide a written response to all grievances. For additional information or to file a grievance, contact the facility’s Administrative/House Supervisor or the facility’s Patient Representative.

Originally posted September 15, 2022