Welcome to the MCarES Deaf Patient Care TrainingDeaf Patient Care is an interactive training designed to help health care providers better serve Deaf and hard of hearing patients.

You will gain perspective of the unique challenges and needs Deaf and hard of hearing patients
have when seeking healthcare, and challenge possible preconceived notions about individuals
in the Deaf and hard of hearing community.

You will experience a variety of scenarios through the eyes of two Deaf characters, Jim and Kristen. As you make your way through the training, you will be accompanied by Dr. Michael McKee offering valuable context, perspective, and best practices. The materials were developed in collaboration with a variety of members in the Deaf, hard of hearing, and health care provider community. You will hear some first hand perspectives from this community as well.

Why was this training developed?

People with disabilities have significant health disparities and face barriers to accessing quality health care. Deaf patients are especially underserved and marginalized in health care settings. First, communication barriers with health care providers lead to fear, mistrust, and frustration among Deaf patients as well as to misunderstandings about their diagnosis and treatment. Poor communication was associated with lower satisfaction with health care quality and access and more preventative adverse events in acute care settings. Second, Deaf patients often have a limited knowledge of health information. Patients who were born Deaf or lost hearing prelingually had no access to incidentally occurring health information from family members, radio, television, or public health service campaigns. Unlike their hearing siblings, they often have no information about their family health history. Finally, Deaf patients with other minoritized identities (e.g., race, ethnicity, gender identity, LGBTQAI, etc.) are at a higher risk of marginalization and health risks. With meaningful training, health care providers can become more competent and comfortable providing quality health care to Deaf patients.

Before you begin

The Medicaid Care Experience Simulation (MCarES) Project is funded by the Ohio Department of Medicaid and administered by the Ohio Colleges of Medicine Government Resource Center. The views expressed in this training are solely those of the authors and do not represent the views of the state of Ohio or federal Medicaid programs.

Start the Training

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Short Simulation

30 Minute

Qualifies for CME credit.

Full Simulation

1 Hour

Does not qualify for CME credit.

Disclaimer:
“A medical practitioner, health care institution, or health care payer has the freedom to decline to perform, participate in, or pay for any health care service which violates the practitioner’s, institution’s, or payer’s conscience as informed by the moral, ethical, or religious beliefs or principles held by the practitioner, institution, or payer.” Law signed on July 1, 2021 and made effective on September 30, 2021.