October is known to many as “Spooky Season.” A time for macabre decor, scary movies, and lots of candy (before, during, and after Halloween, of course). But October is also Health Literacy Month, a time to focus on an aspect of healthcare that is too often overlooked and can, in fact, feel pretty scary: communication.
When it comes to our country’s healthcare system, the last two words anyone would use to describe it are “user-friendly.” The U.S. healthcare system is incredibly complicated, with a mix of public and private insurance, fragmented systems, different types of coverage, and a billing system that feels labyrinthine and mysterious.
Ideally, however, a patient’s personal experience with healthcare professionals should not be shrouded in mystery. When a patient sits down with a doctor to talk about a diagnosis, it’s crucial that both the doctor and patient understand each other. The diagnosis needs to be understood by the patient, and so does any applicable treatment regimen. The doctor must also understand and take into consideration any specific needs, limitations, existing conditions, or issues of the patient that may affect treatment. In a perfect world, there is time for the doctor to provide a detailed explanation and for the patient to ask questions and get those questions answered.
If making sure both patient and doctor are on the same page is difficult to do even in ideal circumstances, it is especially so when the patient and doctor do not speak the same language or use the same method of communication.
According to DeafHealth, “Miscommunication, misunderstanding, biases, and discrimination have created longstanding systemic barriers to healthcare access for deaf people, which leads to poorer health outcomes and life or death consequences for our deaf communities.”
This also goes for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities and those who are Blind or have low vision.
This is a problem that persists even though the Americans With Disabilities Act requires entities that serve the public, which includes places like doctor’s offices and hospitals, to communicate effectively with people who have communication disabilities. Healthcare providers must offer everyone, including people with disabilities, access to medical services.
While they are required to offer reasonable accommodations to patients with disabilities, medical professionals are, of course, only human. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Office of Minority Health offers a guide that includes tips and checklists to help facilitate clearer communication.
First off, let staff know about what accommodations you’ll need up front.
“When you call to schedule your appointment, tell the scheduler about your needs as a person with a disability and the accommodations you require,” CMS recommends. “Ask what you can expect to occur during the appointment. This will help you and your provider get ready for the appointment.”
Be sure to let staff know about your needs again when you arrive for your appointment. You have the right to advocate for yourself and make requests of your providers.
“You can ask your provider to make simple changes in the way they interact with you. For example, if you are blind, you may ask your provider to describe what is happening during the exam and give you verbal cues before touching you,” according to CMS. “During your appointment, let your provider know about any problems you’re experiencing.”
Other steps you can take to help improve understanding between you and your medical provider include taking a trusted family member or friend with you to your appointment, writing down questions you have ahead of time so that you don’t forget them, and seeking out a provider with expertise serving patients with disabilities, especially those who can accommodate your specific needs.
Remember, you not only have the right to be treated with care and respect, you have the right to accessible communication in a healthcare setting.
You can find Health Care Independent Living Resources at misilc.org. You can also contact your local Center for Independent Living for help.