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                              Effective Communication in Hospitals


    

    

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Effective Communication in Hospitals








  
  
    

  
      



Good medical care depends upon effective communication between you and your provider(s). Ineffective communication can lead to improper diagnosis and delayed or improper medical treatment. If you have limited English proficiency or are deaf or hard-of-hearing, you may require interpreters or other services to help you communicate effectively with your healthcare providers.
Many hospitals are actively taking steps to improve effective communication. However, hospitals face increasing challenges to meet the communication needs of an increasingly diverse population. To help hospitals meet these challenges; OCR is making information, resources, and tools available to healthcare organizations that assist people with limited English proficiency and people who are deaf or hard of hearing.
Effective Communication Resources for Health Providers
For Persons who are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
	For Persons with limited English proficiency
	From The Joint Commission: Improving Patient-Provider Communications (YouTube Video) Part 1 | Part 2 | Part 3 | Part 4 Federal civil rights laws that prohibit discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, and disability:Compliance Activities
OCR selected Disability Cases and Resolution Agreements
	OCR selected Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Cases and Resolution Agreements
	Department of Justice Settlement Agreements and Consent Decrees

                    
  


Content created by Office for Civil Rights (OCR) Content last reviewed September 30, 2015Back to top
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