Georgia Medical Center Pays $50,000 to Settle ADA Violation
The Redmond Regional Medical Center, a hospital based in Rome, Georgia, recently reached a $50,000 settlement with the United States government after being accused of violating the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
According to information from the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Georgia, the hospital failed to provide legitimate and effective means of communications for people who were deaf or have difficulties hearing.
The complaints that led to the fine came from a deaf mother and daughter, who visited the emergency room at Redmond after the daughter developed a rash on her leg. According to the complaint, the daughter was treated without being provided any effective means of communication and then sent home, only to come back a couple days later after contracting a severe staph infection that required surgery and a four-day stay in the hospital. Another complainant said this sort of negligence by the hospital is nothing new, as she was refused any sort of interpretive services for her deafness in three separate visits to the emergency room.
Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, all medical providers are required to provide proper, effective communication for people who are deaf or have difficulties hearing. A failure to do so could lead to the patient not getting the care he or she needs. In this case, for instance, the daughter would not have developed the staph infection had doctors taken appropriate measures to communicate with her in a way she could understand them.
As part of the settlement, Redmond agreed to mandate training for all of its personnel and provide regular reports to the U.S. Attorney’s Office on its compliance with the ADA.
Hospitals and medical clinics must be in full compliance with the ADA as public facilities. This is especially important given the amount of people with disabilities who are likely to be visiting these buildings, who need equal access to medical facilities and treatment.
For more information about how you can keep in compliance with the ADA at your medical facility and to outfit it with fully compliant ADA signage, contact us today at Erie Custom Signs.
