There are many times when a deaf patient may be scheduled for a same day appointment, and when they do, interpretive services should be quickly and easily accessible.
“Historically, it is nearly impossible to get an onsite interpreter for same day appointments,” said Flower Nunez, lead interpreter for The Nebraska Medical Center’s interpretive services.
The video remote interpretation (VRI) and the Cyra Com VRI laptop are secure, HIPAA-compliant Skype services that allow online access to a medically trained sign language interpreter almost instantly.
Nunez advises all clinics to contact interpretive services at 559-8697 about accessing the VRI laptop for same day appointments.
All UNMC Physicians clinics at the Durham Outpatient Center should identify at least two rooms in each clinic with a live Internet connection, Nunez said, so when the technology is needed it can be accessed with ease.
“On various occasions, I have had to go to up to three rooms before finding a live Internet connection,” she said.
“UNMC, UNMC Physicians and The Nebraska Medical Center are committed to providing full access,” Nunez said. “The VRI laptop is a tool that can greatly impact this important mission.”