Cheshire Medical Center/Dartmouth-Hitchcock Keene (N.H.) has agreed to pay a $25,000 federal fine and take steps to improve healthcare for deaf patients, according to a Keene Sentinel report.
The settlement resolves allegations brought forth by Laura Waldren, a deaf patient who sought care at the hospital. Her lawsuit against the hospital alleges that, on three separate occasions, the hospital failed to provide a sign-language interpreter.
Hospital providers once had to rely on a faulty video interpretation system. Other times, physicians relied on Ms. Waldren's mother, who is not a trained sign-language interpreter, to communicate with her.
As part of the settlement, the hospital is required to establish a proper program for deaf patients within 90 days.
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The settlement resolves allegations brought forth by Laura Waldren, a deaf patient who sought care at the hospital. Her lawsuit against the hospital alleges that, on three separate occasions, the hospital failed to provide a sign-language interpreter.
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Hospital providers once had to rely on a faulty video interpretation system. Other times, physicians relied on Ms. Waldren's mother, who is not a trained sign-language interpreter, to communicate with her.
As part of the settlement, the hospital is required to establish a proper program for deaf patients within 90 days.
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