FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 4, 2006

DEAF/DEAF-BLIND GROUP MEETS PREMIER PHYSICIANS CEO

Rocky River, Ohio- Members of the Deaf & Deaf-Blind Committee on Human Rights (DDBCHR) met last week with Mark Wiedt, the Chief Executive Officer of Premier Physicians Centers at their offices in Rocky River. The two organizations discussed the importance of awareness of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to all physicians, not only Premier Physicians. DDBCHR has agreed to provide training for staff at Premier's 40 offices regarding doctors' responsibilities under the ADA.

DDBCHR members and supporters held the first ever Deaf sit-in at a medical facility, to draw attention to the problem that many doctors still refuse to provide interpreting services for their Deaf/Deaf-Blind patients. After a four hour protest, with no one from the doctor's office willing to talk to DDBCHR members, the group vowed to come back in two weeks with even more supporters. After the positive meeting with Premier's CEO last week, however, DDBCHR has called off the second protest at the Westlake office.

Wiedt opened the meeting by expressing that he truly believed DDBCHR's efforts to educate doctors about their obligations under the ADA law was a good thing. He told the group, "I believe that providing effective communication is an important part of patient care." He explained that Premier Physicians Centers already has a policy in place that requires their doctors to provide effective communication for hearing impaired patients according to the patient's preference. Wiedt explained that this means however, a patient wants to communicate whether by writing, bringing a family member or through a professional interpreter that Premier's doctors would comply. Wiedt also assured the group that if any of Premier's doctors were found not providing effective communication for Deaf/Deaf-Blind patients, he would address these issues with the doctors to correct any problems.

DDBCHR members asked Wiedt to provide training for all of their offices about the ADA and about communication with Deaf/Deaf blind patients. They also asked for training on how to secure and use interpreting services. Wiedt agreed to send a Clinical Manager for training at the DDBCHR. This material will be used in training the office staff at Premier's 40 sites around northeast Ohio. Training on the ADA will also be incorporated into the orientation Premier gives to all of its new hires.

Wiedt informed the group that he had already sent a letter out to all of their offices notifying them regarding the protest and explaining the ADA law and the importance to provide effective communication for Deaf/Deaf-Blind patients. Further information on this topic will be provided to all offices through Premier's newsletter.

DawnMarie Fucile, Chair of DDBCHR's Action Committee was pleased with the outcome of the meeting. "Our goal all along was to educate the medical community about our basic rights to communication. We applaud Premier Physicians Centers for their leadership in asserting patients' rights to choose the type of communication that will work best for them. We consider our agreement with Premier to increase their training on the ADA not only a victory for our organization, but a victory for Deaf & Deaf-Blind patients everywhere!"

According to the Americans with Disabilities Act (passed into law 16 years ago), doctors are required to provide effective communication to Deaf & Deaf-Blind patients to ensure safe and effective treatment. English is a second language for most Deaf and Deaf-Blind people while American Sign Language is their first language. Due to a poor educational system, the average Deaf adult, in fact, only reads and writes English at a third or fourth grade level. For Deaf and Deaf-Blind people with limited English proficiency, discussing serious medical issues with a doctor via written notes in English is therefore not considered effective communication. To ensure that Deaf and Deaf-Blind patients receive equal treatment to their hearing counterparts, doctors need to provide sign language interpreters when requested.

Premier Physicians Centers is the largest independent physicians practice in Northeast Ohio with 60+ doctors located at 40 sites throughout the area.

The DDBCHR, founded in 1998, is a grassroots organization working to educate and organize around issues of living wage jobs, housing, health care, education and communication for all deaf, hard of hearing and deaf-blind people. The group is made up of Deaf, Hard of Hearing, Deaf-Blind, and non-deaf supporters from Northeast Ohio. For more information about the organization contact them by voice phone: 440-801-1998, TTY/Video Phone: 440-801-1948, or Email DDBCHR1@cs.com.

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