New 24-hour interpreting services begin at CVMC

In an effort to enhance their interpreting services, Central Vermont Medical Center has acquired Deaf Talk, a wireless mobile video unit that allows for 24-hour American Sign Language video interpreting. The unit gives patients the ability to communicate directly with clinicians via a certified, medically-trained American Sign Language interpreter on the video screen.
Interpreting services are often necessary when treating patients who are deaf, hard of hearing, visually impaired, or with limited English. Community interpreters are continued to be used at CVMC, but systems like Deaf Talk are designed to provide communication when no community interpreters are available. This can be very important in the Emergency Department, when patients need to be seen immediately and delays in communication can be dangerous.
In addition to Deaf Talk, CVMC subscribes to a 24-hour DT language service that grants access to 150 languages over the telephone. They have also acquired special dual handset phones for individual rooms and throughout the hospital to accommodate non-English speaking patients.