As 2020 closes out and a new year begins those of us at HLAA-TC wanted to provide you with a link to the Communication Access Plan (CAP) developed by HLAA. Access the PDF by clicking on this link: https://www.hearingloss.org/wp-content/uploads/HLAA_HC_Full_Guide.pdf

The Communication Access Plan (CAP) is “A Guide for Effective Communication in Health Care” that the HLAA has given access to so that anyone who reads it and puts its proposed actions in place will have a guide to follow in order to have better communication with doctors and health care providers when under their care. “The more you understand about your own health, the better decisions you and your health care team can make, ” the CAP states.

The following bullet points are stated in the guide to help you understand its purpose.

The [CAP] Guide will help you to understand:

• What is needed for effective communication?
• What is a Communication Access Plan (CAP)? Why is it important?
• How should it be used?
• What are the “auxiliary aids and services” that may help you to communicate?
• What are your legal rights to effective communication?
• How to get what you need for:
  • Emergency Department visits
  • Inpatient hospital stays
  • Outpatient appointments
  • Tests and procedures

Please read through the CAP and print it out for when you need to reference it. Any questions? Reach out to one of our board members (their email addresses can be found on our website here).

Remember that HLAA-TC is resuming monthly chapter meetings on Zoom starting in January (our first Zoom meeting of the new year is January 16th with social time at 9:30 am and the scheduled speaker, Dr. Matthew Winn, starting at 10:00 am).