decisionhealth Newsletters, Part B News - 2020 Issue 9 (September)
Consider options for deaf patients in telehealth, and add a plan for prompt follow up
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Article Overview
This article explains how telehealth intersects with accessibility obligations for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients and discusses practical communication options for virtual care. It is relevant to clinicians, compliance staff, and billing or operations teams that support telehealth workflows. The piece also covers the role of relay services, interpreter support, captioning tools, and the importance of clear follow-up communication after the visit.
Why This Topic Matters
Telehealth can improve access for some patients with hearing loss, but it can also create communication barriers that affect understanding, patient safety, and compliance. The article helps readers recognize the types of accommodation and follow-up considerations that may be needed in virtual care.
Article Sections
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Telehealth
Introduces accessibility concerns for hearing-impaired patients in virtual care and places the topic in the context of disability rights and telemedicine growth.
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Lipreading? Not necessarily
Discusses communication challenges and limitations that can arise when relying on lipreading during telehealth visits.
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Phone company has to help
Reviews telecommunications relay service options and related phone-based accessibility support available to patients.
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DIY deaf telehealth
Covers technology-assisted communication approaches for telehealth encounters, including interpreter and captioning options.
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Follow-up care is critical
Emphasizes the importance of post-visit communication and careful follow-up for hearing-impaired patients.
What You Will Learn
- How telehealth can affect communication access for deaf and hard-of-hearing patients
- What broad categories of accessibility support may be used during virtual visits
- Why follow-up communication is especially important after telehealth encounters
- How relay services and interpreter-related tools fit into telehealth workflows
- Which compliance and patient-safety considerations are highlighted for accessible care
Who Should Read This
- Physicians and other clinicians
- Telehealth program staff
- Compliance and privacy teams
- Practice administrators
- Patient experience and care coordination teams
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