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A post from my sister-in-law. Your facility's actions are repulsive and reprehensible. Disgusting. ...
"Johns Hopkins has some great doctors and a lot of great things going on. But if you are a deaf patient there, you are screwed.
In the trauma ER, my deaf son and deaf daughter in law requested sign language interpreters for 12 hours straight. Staff said they were “working on it” for 12 hours straight, and neither patient ever received one. On occasion, an interpreter who was working with another patient elsewhere in the huge facility would run in and out of their rooms.
Both deaf patients had suffered trauma in an auto accident and were experiencing severe pain. They had open fractures. They have complex medical histories, including pulmonary and cardiac issues. They required assessment and diagnostic services and none of the staff were able to communicate with them. None of the staff did anything to get an interpreter for them, and some acted irritated that they continued to ask. One or two tried VRI, which did not work. Following the failure of that technology, one nurse stated that the deaf patients “declined an offer for an interpreter”!
At one point my son was screaming in pain and unable to communicate with them. Five or six doctors who were standing in the hall gawked into his room as if he were an exhibition. When I asked them through tears in desperation to please to get him an interpreter, one responded in a snarky dismissive tone that staff already knew he needed one. Yet he didn’t get one.
I emailed hospital administrators and called them repeatedly. Sometimes one of the profoundly deaf patients would have an interpreter for a couple hours. There were times that each of them were in different locations requiring different diagnostics, assessment, procedural, surgical, and post surgical care, and neither was able to communicate. At one point my intelligent, articulate son was pushed beyond his limit and cried, shouted, screamed and signed, “I am a human being! Please get me an Interpreter. I need to communicate. I am not an animal. Please get me an interpreter now!”
One nurse on the orthopedic trauma floor advocated for hours to get interpreters for them. She was somewhat successful, but as soon as the deaf patients were moved to a different floor, they were back to square one. It was as if everyone at Johns Hopkins knew and accepted that their job is to tell deaf people “we are working on it” while knowing it will probably never actually happen.
My experience was the same after my daughter-in-law was discharged and had to return to the emergency room within 24 hours. We waited there for roughly 12 hours again begging all night for an interpreter to no avail. At one point when I demanded one and again emailed the hospital administrator, they took the interpreter from my son who was inpatient, and sent her downstairs leaving him without communication elsewhere in the hospital.
The patients were discharged and have returned for post surgical appointments. Both times they requested an interpreter. Both times, one was not provided. Someone plugged in a VRI, a spotty technology which frequently does not work. In this instance again, it did not work. My daughter-in-law, two weeks post surgery, had no way to communicate with her doctor. She had sutures removed, and was unable to discuss her care. Unable to discuss her prognosis. Unable to ask questions. She was again denied access to reasonable accommodation.
Again, I have called hospital administrators numerous times. I have emailed numerous times. I have asked nicely, I have advocated strategically, I have completely lost my cool and cried and yelled.
It always comes back to the standard. “We are working on it.”
Johns Hopkins, as I understand from several interpreters, has a million-dollar contract with an interpreting agency that has more than 500 interpreters. Why it does not hold the agency accountable to provide interpreters for its deaf patients is beyond me.
Johns Hopkins is in regular, consistent, ongoing violation of federal law which requires reasonable access and accommodation. Their patient handbook states that patients will receive access to communication in a language they can understand. There are signs all over the outpatient center stating that JH will provide interpreters. And yet on an ongoing consistent basis, deaf patients are put at serious risk. Their health and well being is jeopardized daily at Johns Hopkins because they have a disability as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act, and Johns Hopkins denies them reasonable access and accommodation.
What will it take for deaf people to stop being denied basic rights and to be treated with a minimal level of dignity at this “world class” institution?" See More
"Johns Hopkins has some great doctors and a lot of great things going on. But if you are a deaf patient there, you are screwed.
In the trauma ER, my deaf son and deaf daughter in law requested sign language interpreters for 12 hours straight. Staff said they were “working on it” for 12 hours straight, and neither patient ever received one. On occasion, an interpreter who was working with another patient elsewhere in the huge facility would run in and out of their rooms.
Both deaf patients had suffered trauma in an auto accident and were experiencing severe pain. They had open fractures. They have complex medical histories, including pulmonary and cardiac issues. They required assessment and diagnostic services and none of the staff were able to communicate with them. None of the staff did anything to get an interpreter for them, and some acted irritated that they continued to ask. One or two tried VRI, which did not work. Following the failure of that technology, one nurse stated that the deaf patients “declined an offer for an interpreter”!
At one point my son was screaming in pain and unable to communicate with them. Five or six doctors who were standing in the hall gawked into his room as if he were an exhibition. When I asked them through tears in desperation to please to get him an interpreter, one responded in a snarky dismissive tone that staff already knew he needed one. Yet he didn’t get one.
I emailed hospital administrators and called them repeatedly. Sometimes one of the profoundly deaf patients would have an interpreter for a couple hours. There were times that each of them were in different locations requiring different diagnostics, assessment, procedural, surgical, and post surgical care, and neither was able to communicate. At one point my intelligent, articulate son was pushed beyond his limit and cried, shouted, screamed and signed, “I am a human being! Please get me an Interpreter. I need to communicate. I am not an animal. Please get me an interpreter now!”
One nurse on the orthopedic trauma floor advocated for hours to get interpreters for them. She was somewhat successful, but as soon as the deaf patients were moved to a different floor, they were back to square one. It was as if everyone at Johns Hopkins knew and accepted that their job is to tell deaf people “we are working on it” while knowing it will probably never actually happen.
My experience was the same after my daughter-in-law was discharged and had to return to the emergency room within 24 hours. We waited there for roughly 12 hours again begging all night for an interpreter to no avail. At one point when I demanded one and again emailed the hospital administrator, they took the interpreter from my son who was inpatient, and sent her downstairs leaving him without communication elsewhere in the hospital.
The patients were discharged and have returned for post surgical appointments. Both times they requested an interpreter. Both times, one was not provided. Someone plugged in a VRI, a spotty technology which frequently does not work. In this instance again, it did not work. My daughter-in-law, two weeks post surgery, had no way to communicate with her doctor. She had sutures removed, and was unable to discuss her care. Unable to discuss her prognosis. Unable to ask questions. She was again denied access to reasonable accommodation.
Again, I have called hospital administrators numerous times. I have emailed numerous times. I have asked nicely, I have advocated strategically, I have completely lost my cool and cried and yelled.
It always comes back to the standard. “We are working on it.”
Johns Hopkins, as I understand from several interpreters, has a million-dollar contract with an interpreting agency that has more than 500 interpreters. Why it does not hold the agency accountable to provide interpreters for its deaf patients is beyond me.
Johns Hopkins is in regular, consistent, ongoing violation of federal law which requires reasonable access and accommodation. Their patient handbook states that patients will receive access to communication in a language they can understand. There are signs all over the outpatient center stating that JH will provide interpreters. And yet on an ongoing consistent basis, deaf patients are put at serious risk. Their health and well being is jeopardized daily at Johns Hopkins because they have a disability as defined by the Americans With Disabilities Act, and Johns Hopkins denies them reasonable access and accommodation.
What will it take for deaf people to stop being denied basic rights and to be treated with a minimal level of dignity at this “world class” institution?" See More
My grandson was there this morning for a broken arm. He was seen by Nurse Meredith and Doc Diana. Th...e (2) of them were awesome! They took excellent care of B from the time we got there until we left. They even came out in the hall to comfort me because I left when the re-setting procedure took place. Huge Kudos to both of them - Thanks for a great experience! See More
As an International patient, I am incredibly disappointed by the Stiff Man Clinic staff and the Staf...f of the International Patient Office. I inquired about an appointment and the office confirmed the doctor was available for the dates I suggested. I was quoted a price range for the office visit. They asked that I translate all the medical records and I informed them the cost of translations was 1,500Euro and that I will have it done in advance of the visits.
As agreed, I collected and translated my documents, bought plane tickets, made plans for lodging and transportation for the week of the visit. The week before the appointment, I emailed to set up the final details and was told by the clinic that I did not, and will not, have an appointment the week as anticipated, and that the next available appointment was 7 months away. And that in addition to all the documents I already provided I will have to do additional, expensive, tests at the clinic.
I now had no appointment, but flights were booked and all arrangements made. In response to a plea for a special accommodation and an appointment, The Operations Manager of the International Patient Service emailed and apologized for the "miscommunication", that they were "not clear", and that he sympathized with "my sentiments".
As a patient of this horrible disease, traveling half way around the world is very dependent on how I am managing at the time. The preparation for travel of this magnitude takes an emotional, physical, and a hefty financial toll. All the clinic was able to say was "sorry".
"Sorry" is not enough, and does not make up for the crushed hopes for a second opinion. The clinic has left me disappointed, angry, out of options and many thousands of dollars wasted.
Communicate with this clinic carefully, precisely, and with caution. Don't spend a dime until you have a time and date of your appointment and a definite list of which test will be performed where and at what price. See More
As agreed, I collected and translated my documents, bought plane tickets, made plans for lodging and transportation for the week of the visit. The week before the appointment, I emailed to set up the final details and was told by the clinic that I did not, and will not, have an appointment the week as anticipated, and that the next available appointment was 7 months away. And that in addition to all the documents I already provided I will have to do additional, expensive, tests at the clinic.
I now had no appointment, but flights were booked and all arrangements made. In response to a plea for a special accommodation and an appointment, The Operations Manager of the International Patient Service emailed and apologized for the "miscommunication", that they were "not clear", and that he sympathized with "my sentiments".
As a patient of this horrible disease, traveling half way around the world is very dependent on how I am managing at the time. The preparation for travel of this magnitude takes an emotional, physical, and a hefty financial toll. All the clinic was able to say was "sorry".
"Sorry" is not enough, and does not make up for the crushed hopes for a second opinion. The clinic has left me disappointed, angry, out of options and many thousands of dollars wasted.
Communicate with this clinic carefully, precisely, and with caution. Don't spend a dime until you have a time and date of your appointment and a definite list of which test will be performed where and at what price. See More
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