Newsletter: Friday, May 15
Happy Friday, everyone!
Our newsletter highlights this week include important information regarding hospital preparation tips and medical rights. Don’t forget to read to the end for a hello from Jamal, Community Pathways’ newest personal agent!
Be Prepared for Hospitalization and Know Your Medical Rights
We are all trying to stay healthy by following CDC’s preventative suggestions.
Practicing healthy habits like proper hygiene and social distancing are some of the best ways to protect ourselves during this time. However, we need to be ready for the unexpected. As stated in OSSA’s post on Medical Support in the Time of COVID-19, we want to “hope for the best; plan for the worst.”
It is important to plan for emergencies. Hospitals are doing their best to keep people safe, but medical workers don’t always realize that some individuals need extra supports. It is important to know that people who experience disabilities have special protections. These protections make sure that individuals get the care they need.
Keep reading to learn how to prepare for a hospital visit and understand your medical rights.
Prepare for a Potential Hospital Visit
Think about what it is you need in a health care setting in order to receive the best possible treatment.
What do you want doctors to know about you? Have documents ready with information to share.
Independence Northwest has put together a resource page for hospital communications. This includes examples on how to communicate with hospital staff. Some of these forms can be personalized with your information and so you are able to give them to doctors.
These communication boards could also help doctors understand why you feel sick or hurt:
Source: Jems.com
Download, print and complete the forms and visuals that will help you communicate. Store them in a safe place in your home; maybe put the documents inside folder titled “For Emergencies” or “Medical Visits” and tell someone you trust where you keep it.
Talk to your PA if you need assistance with preparing these documents.
Know Your Medical Rights
Individuals have the right to communication and management of their healthcare decisions. Disability Rights Oregon (DRO) has put together a useful document to understand rights to medical treatment.
Doctor’s offices, clinics and hospitals must be able to accommodate certain necessities, such as your own wheelchair, communication device, or assistance animal. To read more about rights to reasonable accommodation, click here.
It is also important to know that if a person with a disability is hospitalized, he or she can bring a family member or provider with them if necessary (as long as that person is not also sick).
Oregon Health Authority’s visitor guidance policy during the COVID-19 outbreak states that patients who need assistance with treatments or to ensure safety can have a guardian or caregiver with them at the hospital.
Let your PA know if you need additional support with knowing your rights.
DRO wants to know if you need help. Reach out to them if you were denied your requested accommodations at a hospital, clinic or doctor’s office.
Call DRO:
503-243-2081 or 1-800-452-1694
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. or 1:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Monday through Friday
Write a letter:
Disability Rights Oregon
511 SW 10th Avenue
Suite 200
Portland, Oregon 97205
You can easily access and download these medical documents on the new Emergency Planning portion of our COVID-19 webpage.
PA Spotlight of the Week
Jamal plays the piano and flute.
Jamal started as a personal agent at Community Pathways in March.
It is strange for him that he has only met most of his customers and coworkers online or over the phone!
Jamal’s board game collection: some of his favorites include This War of Mine and Skythe.
Jamal is using his extra time at home to play music and use his board game collection.
He is excited to meet fellow gamers at future CPI Game Nights!
Read Jamal’s bio here to learn more about Community Pathways’ newest team member.