MultiCare Health Systems in Washington has agreed to alter its procedures and allocate over $2 million to compensate patients whose civil rights were violated due to inadequate interpreter services. This announcement was made by U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman following an investigation by the U.S. Attorney’s Office and the U.S. Health and Human Services (HHS). The investigation revealed that two deaf-blind patients did not receive proper interpreter services before and after surgery, leading to each receiving $100,000 in compensation. Additionally, family members who had to act as interpreters under stressful conditions will receive $40,000 each.
“This settlement with MultiCare not only compensates those whose rights were violated, it also ensures better care in the future for patients who are deaf and deaf-blind,” stated U.S. Attorney Tessa M. Gorman. She further mentioned that MultiCare would appoint a point person responsible for providing appropriate assistive devices and ensuring effective communication with all patients through resources including three interpreter firms.
As part of the settlement terms, MultiCare is required to train employees on assessing and meeting communication needs of deaf or deaf-blind patients. They must also provide information about interpreter services on their website and handbook. The agreement will last three years, with reporting every four months to the U.S. Attorney’s Office and HHS regarding requests for assistive devices or interpreters.
The investigation commenced in 2020 after a complaint was received about a deaf-blind patient who did not receive adequate communication assistance during multiple appointments surrounding surgery. During this time, another similar case emerged involving a second patient facing similar issues.
Although MultiCare has not admitted fault, they acknowledge potential additional violations of ADA rights among other patients. A fund of $2 million will be established by MultiCare to identify any such cases where appropriate interpreter services were lacking. A third-party claims administrator will be appointed to distribute these funds based on harm suffered by each complainant, working alongside MultiCare records to locate claimants.
Besides claimant settlements, MultiCare is set to pay $95,000 to the U.S. Attorney’s office.
This marks the eighth settlement within eight years concerning inadequate interpreter services in healthcare settings investigated by the U.S. Attorney’s Office which previously resolved complaints against PeaceHealth Southwest Medical Center in Vancouver, University of Washington Medical Center – Northwest (UWMC-NW) in Seattle, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of Washington (KFHPW), among others.
The matter was investigated and settled by Assistant United States Attorneys Susan Kas and Matt Waldrop with AUSA Kas serving as Civil Rights Coordinator for the Western District of Washington's U.S. Attorney’s Office.
Further details on Civil Rights work can be found at: https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdwa/civil-rights