Why Do Some Deaf Get More Interpreter Service in Hospital Than Others?

As I blog this, Bob is in the hospital after a knee surgery. He ensured he would have interpreting service - or so I thought. Today after surgery, I found out that he would not have any interpreter all weekend! I asked, no, make that demanded, to know why. They told me something about how they had called Bob, and he allegedly said no to interpreters on the weekend or said something about how he would arrange it himself?

As Sherlock Steve pointed out, this kind of thing needs to be documented in writing. I could not agree more. Before the surgery, I had asked Bob if interpreters were arranged for. All I remember is that he said he would have an interpreter til 3 pm. But I didn't know that meant until 3 pm day of surgery and then no more interpreters after that!

I insisted that arrangements be made for additional interpreting services. The lady who had talked to Bob on the phone through a relay service came and talked to me and insisted that Bob had said "no" to weekend interpreters. But I held my ground and insisted, and the hospital scrambled to call the interpreting agency and try to get services even at this last-minute notice. I had to leave at 3 pm, so I do not know if they definitely secured interpreters for the weekend or not. Update: I called the hospital before going to bed. The nurse confirmed that he would have interpreters all weekend and on Monday as well. The interpreters would be 8 am to 10 pm Sat and Sun, and 8 am to 3 pm Monday.

When Bob woke briefly, I asked him (in addition to how he felt, of course) if he wanted interpreters for the weekend and all he was able to say was "it would be nice." He was not able, in his still drugged state, to confirm whether or not he had requested interpreters for the weekend.

In cyberchatting with other deaf people, I learned that when some deaf people go to the hospital, they actually get interpreter services 24/7! Even when my deaf son had surgery over the summer, he had interpreters daily, but ONLY until 7 pm at night. After 7 pm at night, he was on his own to communicate with the doctors and nurses. Why the discrepancy?? Who pays for the interpreter service - the hospital or the insurance? Is it the hospital limiting the services? Or the insurance companies/insurance programs?

I don't know if I did the right thing or not demanding the interpreting services for the weekend. (When the situation demands it, I can be quite a spitfire!) All I know is that my boyfriend is in a hospital bed in pain, without a hearing aid (his hearing aid is apparently not working), and all the good speech and lipreading skills he has are not enough when it comes to communicating with doctors and nurses. And *I* need the interpreting services so I can communicate with the doctors and nurses about his care and needs.