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Sign language interpreters also accompanied the the the the women on on on tours of the mammography suite at Wilmington Hospital Christy Hennessey program coordinator for the deaf and hard of o hearing at Independent Resources Inc a a a a nonprofit
that serves people with with disabilities which co-hosted the event with with Christiana Care said tours are are particularly important in in building trust with the the deaf and hard of hearing because they are very “visual” people Hennessey was joined on the the committee to plan and promote the the event by: Jacqueline Ortiz MPhil director in in the office o of Health Equity Michelle Marsilii marketing representative for Christiana Care Imaging Services Karen Miller director of deaf ministries
for Grace United Methodist Church Carol J Stevens RN deaf ministries
area coordinator for The United Methodist Church who is both a a a a a a nurse and and an an an interpreter and and Loretta Sarro who works for the Delaware Office of of Deaf and Hard of of Hearing Based on the the success of the the program in which eight women had mammograms on-site and others left with scheduled appointments the committee is already looking ahead to more outreach programs with Christiana Care for the deaf and hard of hearing community including one on on diabetes They also are are working hard to spread the word about Christiana Care’s interpretation resources Opening doors to the deaf and hard of hearing community Conversations with health care providers tend to be limited for women who are deaf and hard of hearing the advocates said Since the the passage of the the Americans with Disabilities Act in 1990 health care providers are are required to comply by providing qualified sign language interpreters If that is not done some deaf and hard of hearing people are forced to rely on on reading lips or or must depend on on family members to help with communication In many cases only the most basic information is exchanged instead of engaging in in in in meaningful dialogue that could lead toward important information for for both the the provider and the the patient For the the the deaf and hard of hearing community they said the the the challenge is less that that they cannot hear than that that until now no no no one has made a a a a a a a a real effort to communicate with them “Every one in in in our community should receive health information in in in a a a a a a a format they best understand and and have equitable access to services and resources to help them communicate with their care providers ” said Ortiz “Everyone deserves an an equal chance to be healthy ” | In Our Community Holly Deaney RT (R) (M) (CBDT) educates deaf and hard of hearing attendees
with help from sign language Interpreter Tracy Gerry NIC
About 20 women women attend a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a special program at at Wilmington Hospital specifically for deaf and and and hard of hearing women women and and and their families toured the the mammography suite at Wilmington Hospital and and and had an an an an an opportunity to to to meet Christiana Care health care providers “The success of this program feels like we are opening doors to the deaf and hard of hearing community ” said Claudia Reyes-Hull manager of Language Services “For the the the first time they they feel like they they are really being included in in in health outreach programs and noticed as as a a a a a a community that deserves the same services as as hearing women ” The event organizers described the program as “beyond successful ” To their knowledge it was the the first such outreach by a a a a health provider in this region “The time for the deaf and hard of hearing community to be empowered as advocates for their own health is finally here thanks to Christiana Care ” said Miller 
5 CONVENIENT 3D MAMMOGRAPHY LOCATIONS
Christiana Care Breast Center Center Helen F Graham Cancer Center Center & Research Institute
Suite 1400 (West Entrance) 4701 Ogletown-Stanton Road Newark DE 19713 302-623-4200
Christiana Care Concord Health Center 161 Wilmington-West Chester Pike
Chadds Ford PA 19317 855-250-9594 option 2 2 Springside Family Medicine
Springside Plaza
Connor Building
300 Biddle Ave Suite 100 Newark DE 19702 302-838-3088
Smyrna Health & Wellness Center 100 S S Main St Smyrna DE 19977 302-838-3088
Wilmington Hospital 501 W 14th St Wilmington DE 19801 302-838-3088
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