Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, ADA Violations, California 2024

California Hospital Settles ADA Case

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center (ARMC) in Colton, California, has agreed to comply with federal law by improving access for people who are deaf or hard of hearing, according to a recent settlement.

The hospital, operated by San Bernardino County, California, has entered into an agreement with the United States to resolve allegations that it violated the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) by failing to provide qualified interpreters and other services to persons who are deaf or hard of hearing.

Under the voluntary compliance agreement, ARMC will provide equipment and services to ensure that people who are deaf or hard of hearing have equal access to medical services, which includes giving them the ability to effectively communicate with hospital staff.

The settlement comes after the U.S. Attorney’s Office of the Central District of California received complaints from two deaf patients who alleged that ARMC failed to provide them with a sign language interpreter while they were patients.

As part of the settlement, ARMC will pay a total of $100,000 and will comply with the terms of the agreement, which includes setting up Video Remote Interpreting (VRI) equipment within 20 minutes of a request, providing in-person interpreters in emergency situations, and training staff on ADA matters.

The agreement also requires ARMC to designate an employee as an ADA coordinator, revise its policy on the provision of effective communication, and provide reports to the U.S. Attorney’s Office to assess compliance with the ADA.

The settlement is part of the nationwide Barrier-Free Health Care Initiative (BFHCI), a partnership of the Civil Rights Division and U.S. Attorney’s Offices around the country to ensure that people with disabilities have equal access to medical services.

Arrowhead Regional Medical Center is a 456-bed general medical and surgical hospital that includes a burn center, a primary stroke center, a behavioral health center, and four primary care centers. The hospital’s emergency room saw more than 116,000 patient visits in 2014.

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