My heart just sank when I read your article about your recent hospital stay. Not only the hospital stay, but poor/no communication access. Hope your recovery is gradually going uphill. The body heals but takes time.
Instead of “We write them a letter.” Letters are sometimes easy for hospitals to look the other way. Instead, I would like to suggest 3 different options for you to consider. Filing a complaint is just formal feedback. Complaints are stronger than a letter. Chose just one.
Thanks for this excellent article.I totally agree with everything you have said, although I have found hospital employees to be more responsive than you described. Do you have chargeable aids? How did you handle the charging time? I have battery operated ones for that reason. However, the government, in its infinite wisdom has decreed that the packages, which were so easy to open, have to be child proof. They are also nearly adult proof and require strong scissors and lots of patience to extract a battery.
I recently had a very interesting learning experience. One of my hearing aids had to go back to the factory for repair/replacement while under warranty. Will take 5 - 10 business days. (Read two weeks.) This meant I had a hearing range of about 3 feet. I live with my son. He had to learn to walk up to me, instead of talking to me from the other side of the kitchen with his back to me. I was frustrated because I couldn't hear the everyday sounds of people moving around--footsteps, doors opening, etc., and unless he was within my eyesight I didn't know where he was. We learned to use the cell phone, which I could hear, but he had to learn to let me know when he was outside, in the basement, garage, etc.
The other thing was my speaking. He couldn't hear me unless he was very close, and his hearing is excellent. We finally realized that I speak to the volume I can hear, and it was very soft. Raising my voice felt very rude and like shouting but I learned to do it.
All in all it was a frustrating two weeks, but a real learning experience and I think we both benefited from it. They actually replaced rather than repaired, and Costco suggested I send in the other one before the warranty runs out in December.
My heart just sank when I read your article about your recent hospital stay. Not only the hospital stay, but poor/no communication access. Hope your recovery is gradually going uphill. The body heals but takes time.
Instead of “We write them a letter.” Letters are sometimes easy for hospitals to look the other way. Instead, I would like to suggest 3 different options for you to consider. Filing a complaint is just formal feedback. Complaints are stronger than a letter. Chose just one.
1. File a Colorado Civil Rights complaint. You have 60 days. It’s fairly easy https://ccrd.colorado.gov/the-complaint-process
2. File a formal ADA complaint with the hospital. The hospital should have a specific form - look for accessibility.
3. File a Department of Justice complaint. https://civilrights.justice.gov/
From Carol Coriell
Thanks for this excellent article.I totally agree with everything you have said, although I have found hospital employees to be more responsive than you described. Do you have chargeable aids? How did you handle the charging time? I have battery operated ones for that reason. However, the government, in its infinite wisdom has decreed that the packages, which were so easy to open, have to be child proof. They are also nearly adult proof and require strong scissors and lots of patience to extract a battery.
I recently had a very interesting learning experience. One of my hearing aids had to go back to the factory for repair/replacement while under warranty. Will take 5 - 10 business days. (Read two weeks.) This meant I had a hearing range of about 3 feet. I live with my son. He had to learn to walk up to me, instead of talking to me from the other side of the kitchen with his back to me. I was frustrated because I couldn't hear the everyday sounds of people moving around--footsteps, doors opening, etc., and unless he was within my eyesight I didn't know where he was. We learned to use the cell phone, which I could hear, but he had to learn to let me know when he was outside, in the basement, garage, etc.
The other thing was my speaking. He couldn't hear me unless he was very close, and his hearing is excellent. We finally realized that I speak to the volume I can hear, and it was very soft. Raising my voice felt very rude and like shouting but I learned to do it.
All in all it was a frustrating two weeks, but a real learning experience and I think we both benefited from it. They actually replaced rather than repaired, and Costco suggested I send in the other one before the warranty runs out in December.