Originally Posted by PADPM

I'm not an attorney, so my answer is simply based on my experiences, and not my knowledge of the actual laws.

We have had different scenarios. We've had deaf patients enter the office willing to simply use a pad and pen, and read lips during the visit. Some have requested interpreters on follow up visits and some new patients call ahead (or a service calls for them) and requests an interpreter. YOU have the option of providing an interpreter or hiring the one the patient recommends, but the patient can not insist on his/her interpreter. If you have to pay his/her interpreter X amount of dollars, and you can find an interpreter that will do the job for 1/2 X, you choose who you want, as long as the job gets done.

We actually had a staff member who "signed", since both her parents are deaf. When the deaf patient came to the office, the patient had known our employee since she was a child. The visit went very smoothly, but the patient requested a DIFFERENT interpreter during follow up visits, since she didn't want our employee to know her medical problems, etc. However, our employee did not look over her records, she simply interpreted for the patient who had heel pain (it wasn't exactly like she had a rare venereal disease!). Our staff signs privacy agreements, and as a result we did NOT have to comply and let her bring in her own interpreter. We provided an interpreter who signed a privacy agreement and that's who we insisted on using, or the patient was given the option of finding another provider.

So, you are not expected to have an interpreter on hand. When receive a call requesting an interpreter, you then have to make the appropriate arrangements for the patient's visit.