DETROIT – McLaren Health Care has agreed to provide better communication resources for its deaf and hard-of-hearing patients to resolve its investigation under Title III of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
The settlement agreement with the United States Attorney’s Office for the Eastern District of Michigan comes after the health corporation received complaints about multiple facilities’ resources of auxiliary aids and services to those who are deaf or hard of hearing.
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The settlement agreement required McLaren to provide auxiliary aids and services free of charge. McLaren will provide a total of $220,000 in monetary relief to the 14 affected individuals.
McLaren said it would review its policies and revise any of them to be consistent with the ADA’s requirement for effective communication. McLaren will have notices within their facilities alerting patients of the availability of ASL interpreters or other auxiliary aids and services free of charge. The corporation must also provide virtual and in-person interpretive services as needed.
McLaren will also train its staff on its updated policies and report any future complaints from individuals with disabilities to the U.S. Attorney’s Office.
“It is critical that patients who are deaf or hard of hearing have the ability to communicate effectively with their health care providers,” said U.S. Attorney Dawn Ison. “McLaren and its staff provide medical services to individuals throughout Michigan, including many rural areas with limited access to care. Therefore, I am especially proud of this resolution and what it means for equal access to health care.”
