Transcript Working With Video Remote Interpreters

Working With Video
Remote Interpreters
Best Practices
Video Remote Equipment
 Equipment and installation requirements
Steps of the VRI System
Step One: The
hospital personnel
phones the VRI
agency to request
the VRI service
Step Three: The VRI
interpreter places the
call to the hospital
contact person to
ensure the equipment is
in place and is ready to
be used
Step Two: The agency
then contacts the VRI
interpreter with the
request
Step Four: The
Interpreter then
initiates the VRI
connection
Situations where the VRI is
appropriate
 Emergency Room-admissions information for triage to
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formulate treatment plan
Pre-OP, to explain procedure and to fill out hospital
questionnaire, consent form etc
Prior to a routine procedure i.e. x-ray, MRI,CATSCAN,
Physical Therapy etc
Short routine office visit (less than ½ hr)
Doctor’s rounds
When medical staff needs to talk to a patient who is
hospitalized for an update on patient’s status
Discharge planning
Situations where VRI
should not be used
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Post operation
Equipment barriers (lead shielded rooms etc)
Patient is not coherent
Patient’s ability to use the VRI or patient’s
personal preference to have on site interpreter
 Emotionally Sensitive information
 Complicated and Risky Procedures
 Certain Mental Health situations i.e. patient is in
restraints etc.
Mental Health
 If the patient is comfortable with using the VRI
for mental health status, one on one counseling
etc
 In groups, you have to consider the hearing
participants. This is probably not a good venue
for the VRI. The other issue is the ability to hear
who is speaking and this could pose a problem
 If patient is in restraints or out of control, then
the VRI is not appropriate
What the medical staff needs to know in
order to facilitate communication through
the VRI
~Always direct your comments to the deaf
patient DIRECTLY
~Be aware that everything that is
heard or seen by the interpreter will be interpreted
~Give the Interpreter time to explain what is going
to occur before you proceed with an action (i.e.
insert the needle into the patient’s arm)
What you need to know
 Remember not to block the patient’s view
of the interpreter and vice versa
 If you leave the room and plan on not
returning for a while, inform the VRI
interpreter so they can disconnect and
make arrangements for a reconnection at
the appropriate time
Privacy Guidelines
If the patient is not in a private room the
following steps will need to be taken:
1.
Make sure the volume on the VRI unit is turned
down so other people not associated with the
patient cannot hear what is being said
2.
Make sure the VRI unit is not visible to others not
associated with the patient
3.
Limit the amount of information that needs to be
stated at that point in time, until patient can be
moved to a more private location
Advantages of VRI
 Interpreters on Demand
 Access to important information immediately for quick
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response
Better use of resources (a VRI interpreter can cover
more assignments in one day than an interpreter who
drives from assignment to assignment)
Pay for only the real interpreting time not the driving or
down time
Interpreter is not exposed to hazardous conditions
Can be a cost savings if used efficiently
Complies with the ADA legislation
Resistance to VRI
 Some people have a fear of high tech equipment, but the
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VRI is actually quite simple to use, equivalent to turning
on and off your TV set
Some people don’t like change and may feel it is too
impersonal
There are legitimate reasons with certain situations when
the VRI shouldn’t be used
The VRI equipment is usually housed in the IT dept and
if they don’t keep track of where it is, it can be frustrating
to try to find the equipment when needed
Sometimes there are technical difficulties and this could
cause some resistance to using the equipment
The Difference between
VRS & VRI
VRS
VRI
 Phone Relay Service
 Video to Video Service
 Controlled by FCC
 No Controls, just
 Can only be located in
 Can be located in
approved Centers
partnership agreement
Interpreter’s home and
follows HIPPA/RID
confidentiality
guidelines
The Difference between
VRS & VRI (continued)
VRS
VRI
 Variety of Topics
 Specialized Topics
 Qualified Interpreters,
 Interpreters should be
does not mean certified
or trained to cover all
topic matters
RID Certified and had
specialized training i.e.
Medical
VRI Teaming with CDI
 Certain patients have a compromised
communication issue and will need a deaf
interpreter along with the hearing
interpreter
 A CDI will be on site and will use the VRI
Interpreter to relay the message to the
patient
VRI Teaming with CDI
 The VRI Interpreter along with the CDI
interpreter will control the communication
traffic to make sure the CDI has plenty of
time to convey the message
 The patient will not be viewing the VRI
Screen, only the deaf interpreter will be
viewing the screen
VRI Teaming with CDI
 The patient will be in direct communication
line with the CDI
 Medical staff has to be aware not to block
visual communication either by standing or
putting equipment in front of the sightlines
of the interpreters and the deaf patient
VRI Teaming with CDI
 Technology is also available where both
the CDI and the hearing interpreter will be
on the VRI screen, in that case, the VRI
screen will be facing the deaf patient and
all other information listed above will still
hold
CDI Responsibilities
 CDI needs to be aware of environmental
information that needs to be passed onto the
VRI Interpreter
 CDI needs to be aware to pass on visual cues in
a subtle way as to not offend the deaf patient
 When the VRI is turned off, the CDI should leave
the room and establish a way for the medical
staff to alert the CDI when interpreting needs
arise
CDI
 CDI in a mental health setting need to be
aware of their signing affect so as not to
increase the patient’s anxiety or emotional
state
 CDI can determine if an onsite hearing
interpreter would be better suited for the
situation at hand
CDI
 CDI and VRI interpreters don’t have a way
at the end of the session to talk about the
teaming aspect of their work, so another
method has to be utilized
 CDI have to understand how
to work in a 2 dimensional
framework
The Interpreting Challenge
 Medical Terminology Interpretation
 Language Equivalents (expansions)
 Working in 2 dimensional environment has an impact on
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certain visual cues
Teaming
The interpreter has to make sure the lighting, contrast
and visibility is clear enough on both ends
The interpreter has to be aware and notify if picture
quality starts to disintegrate
The interpreter has to be aware and notify if audio levels
are compromised
Clear Communication
 Roles clearly defined
 Respect
 Effective Teaming (medical staff, VRI, CDI
and patient
 Eliminating barriers
 VRI should never be forced upon a deaf
patient even though it is stated that it
complies with ADA (lawsuits have been
filed in this arena)
Questions and Answer Period
 Thank you for attending our Workshop and
we look forward to possibly working with
you in a Video Remote Venue