St. Francis Hospital and Medical Center will pay a hearing-impaired patient $45,000 and revise its policies and procedures to settle the patient’s complaint alleging that the hospital didn’t provide equipment or services to ensure adequate communication during multiple admissions, the U.S. attorney’s Office for the District of Connecticut announced Monday.
The patient filed the complaint under the Americans with Disabilities Act, which triggered a compliance review by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ civil rights division.
St. Francis, based in Hartford, has agreed to revise its policies, procedures and training as necessary and assess the need for auxiliary aids and services for hearing-impaired patients and their companions.
Auxiliary aids can include transcription services, note takers, listening devices and other equipment and services.
Under the deal, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and DHHS will monitor St. Francis for compliance for three years.
St. Francis Spokeswoman Fiona Phelan said in an email Tuesday morning that the hospital has implemented mandatory staff training, a centralized system for recording requests for interpretation services, new signage, and sign-language and interpreter assistance.
“We appreciate the support of the Department of Justice and Department of Health and Human Services in reaching a voluntary resolution agreement, which will guide us in these remedial compliance measures to directly benefit the care of our patients and their families,” Phelan wrote.
