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Teaming Together To Care For Our Deaf Patients: Insights From The Deaf Health Clinic, Kate Panzer, Junghyun Park, Leslie Pertz, Michael M. Mckee

JADARA

Deaf patients often struggle with accessing culturally competent care. Poor communication and inaccessible health information negatively impact Deaf individuals, resulting in poorer health outcomes and inappropriate health care use. To address this problem, the Family Medicine Department established the Deaf Health Clinic in 2015 through the efforts of healthcare providers fluent in American Sign Language. After that, the clinic faced several management issues, and implemented strategies to address them. The paper discusses lessons learned and suggests potential and tested solutions to reduce gaps in health care for Deaf individuals.