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<DIV><FONT size=2 face=Arial></FONT> </DIV>
<DIV style="FONT: 10pt arial">----- Original Message -----
<DIV style="BACKGROUND: #e4e4e4; font-color: black"><B>From:</B> <A
title=Disability.Outreach@usdoj.gov
href="mailto:Disability.Outreach@usdoj.gov">Outreach , Disability (CRT)</A>
</DIV>
<DIV><B>To:</B> <A title=Mazen.Basrawi@usdoj.gov
href="mailto:Mazen.Basrawi@usdoj.gov">Basrawi, Mazen (CRT)</A> </DIV>
<DIV><B>Sent:</B> Tuesday, March 29, 2011 4:34 PM</DIV>
<DIV><B>Subject:</B> JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SETTLES AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT
LAWSUIT WITH VIRGINIA'S INOVA HEALTH SYSTEM </DIV></DIV>
<DIV><BR></DIV>
<DIV class=WordSection1>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Note: The court documents are
attached in pdf format.</SPAN> <SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><IMG id=Picture_x0020_1
alt=cid:image001.png@01CBEE20.5CB9DD80
src="cid:92EC842CFE40492AB3786E612B6348CC@CarlosPC" width=78
height=78><B><I><SPAN style="COLOR: #1f497d"> </SPAN></I></B></SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 16pt">DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE</SPAN><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">______________________________________________________________________________<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal
align=center><A name=OLE_LINK4></A><A name=OLE_LINK3></A><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">FOR IMMEDIATE
RELEASE
<A name=2></A> Civil Rights Division<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">TUESDAY, MARCH 29,
2011 (202)
<A name=4></A>514-2007<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><A href="http://WWW.JUSTICE.GOV">WWW.JUSTICE.GOV</A>
TDD (202) 514-1888<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><B><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p><SPAN
style="TEXT-DECORATION: none"> </SPAN></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><B><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">JUSTICE DEPARTMENT SETTLES AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES
ACT LAWSUIT <o:p></o:p></SPAN></U></B></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><B><U><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">WITH VIRGINIA’S INOVA HEALTH SYSTEM </SPAN></U></B><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
WASHINGTON – The Justice Department has reached a settlement with Inova Health
System to ensure effective communication with individuals who are deaf or hard
of hearing in the provision of medical services. The agreement, under the
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and the Rehabilitation Act, resolves a
complaint that Inova failed to provide sign language interpreters to an
expectant mother and others who are deaf and need interpreters to communicate
effectively with health care providers. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
The department’s lawsuit, filed yesterday with a consent decree in the U.S.
District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia, alleged that Inova Health
System violated the ADA and the Rehabilitation Act by failing to provide
appropriate auxiliary aids and services, including sign language interpreter
services, to deaf individuals at Inova Fairfax Hospital. Because of the
hospital’s failure to provide sign language interpreter services, deaf
individuals were denied the benefit of effective communication with hospital
staff, the opportunity to effectively participate in medical treatment
decisions, and the full benefit of health care services provided by Inova
Fairfax Hospital, according to the complaint. <o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">“The
ADA protects the right of individuals who are deaf or hard of hearing to be able
to access medical services, and this settlement is the latest example of the
Justice Department’s unwavering commitment to enforcing the ADA,” said Thomas E.
Perez, Assistant Attorney General for the Civil Rights Division. “This
settlement also demonstrates Inova Health System’s commitment to provide
effective communication to people who are deaf or hard of hearing.”
<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in">“This settlement shows that Inova and the
government share the same goal – making sure that deaf and hard of hearing
patients can communicate with their doctors, especially at critical moments in
their medical care,” said Neil H. MacBride, U.S. Attorney for the Eastern
District of Virginia.<o:p></o:p></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
The consent decree, which must be approved by the district court, requires Inova
Health System to pay $95,000 to aggrieved individuals and a $25,000 civil
penalty; provide training to hospital staff on the requirements of the ADA and
the Rehabilitation Act; and adopt specific policies and procedures to ensure
that auxiliary aids and services are promptly provided to patients or companions
who are deaf or hard of hearing. Inova Health System has also separately
agreed to pay a total of $25,000 to two other aggrieved
individuals.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">
The ADA and Rehabilitation Act prohibit discrimination against individuals with
disabilities by hospitals. Among other things, the ADA requires doctors,
hospitals and other health care providers to provide equal access to patients
and companions who are deaf or hard of hearing. When medical services
involve important, lengthy or complex oral communications with patients or
companions, hospitals are generally required to provide qualified sign language
interpreters and other auxiliary aids, free of charge, to individuals who are
deaf, are hard of hearing or have speech disabilities. The appropriate
auxiliary aid to be provided depends on a variety of factors, including the
nature, length and importance of the communication; the communication skills and
knowledge of the individual who is deaf or hard of hearing; and the individual’s
stated need for a particular type of auxiliary aid.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in" class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">Those interested in finding out more about this
settlement or hospitals’ effective communication obligations under the ADA may
call <SPAN style="COLOR: #171e24">the Justice Department’s toll-free ADA
information Line at 800-514-0301 or 800-514-0383 (TDD), or access its ADA
website at </SPAN></SPAN><U><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"><A
href="http://www.ada.gov/"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">www.ada.gov</SPAN></A></SPAN></U><SPAN
style="COLOR: #171e24; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">. ADA complaints may be filed by
email to </SPAN><U><SPAN style="COLOR: blue"><A
href="mailto:ada.complaint@usdoj.gov"><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 12pt">ada.complaint@usdoj.gov</SPAN></A></SPAN></U><SPAN
style="COLOR: #171e24; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #171e24; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P style="TEXT-ALIGN: center" class=MsoNormal align=center><SPAN
style="COLOR: #171e24; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">###<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #171e24; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #171e24; FONT-SIZE: 12pt">11-392<o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="COLOR: #171e24; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal>DO NOT REPLY TO THIS MESSAGE. IF YOU HAVE QUESTIONS,
PLEASE USE THE CONTACTS IN THE MESSAGE OR CALL THE OFFICE OF PUBLIC AFFAIRS AT
202-514-2007.<SPAN
style="COLOR: #171e24; FONT-SIZE: 12pt"><o:p></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal><SPAN
style="FONT-SIZE: 11pt"><o:p> </o:p></SPAN></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>