Dealing with Medical Emergencies
Recently I spent half a day with a deaf friend in the ER of a major NYC hospital. I watched my friend, who uses an assistive listening device to communicate, struggle to understand what she was being asked and told by a parade of not always patient doctors, nurses and orderlies.
Here’s what I learned: You must tell staff how to communicate with you. Ask them to make eye contact and speak slowly and distinctly. If you are unable to understand what is being said, ask them to write down what they are saying. This can be hard to do when you are feeling very ill or have been in an accident. Having a family member or friend accompany and interpret for you is useful and important.
Prepare an “in case of emergency” packet including a list with contact information of people to call who can help you; where to find your house keys and spare cash; items you want to have with you in the hospital - a sign that says you are HOH to be put over your bed, paper, pencil, spare batteries and chargers for hearing aids/assistive devices; your living will and health care proxy; a note telling where your personal emergency inventory is kept (i.e., a detailed listing of emergency contacts, physicians, preferred hospital, insurance information, medical conditions and information pertaining to your hearing aids and/or cochlear implant).
Put everything together and keep it where you know you will be able to find it fast. Although it may take a couple of hours to assemble the necessary items for this packet, which I like to keep in a plastic zip lock bag, the time spent assembling it will be well worth your while if you are ever faced with a medical emergency.
a.b.c.'s “For Consumers With Hearing Loss: A Kit for Better Health Care Access” provides lots of useful information including a sign to use in the hospital.
If you have any problems with doctors offices or hospitals providing you with the accessibility that you need, please contact the Center for Health Care Access (CHCA) at the Center for Hearing and Communication. Funded by NYS, CHCA can help you directly learn how to obtain what you need. Call (917) 305-7809 (voice or relay) or (800) 598-CHCA (x2422). Click here (and scroll to bottom of page) to learn more about CHCA.
If you would like to share your own experiences or ideas on how to cope in a medical situation, please contact us to tell your story. Thank you.
All the best,
Ruth
