Hospital Safety and Hearing Loss: A Hospital Panel Discussion

Health Care/Medical

Hospital Safety webinar banner of a young doctor smiling

Making Healthcare Safer & More Accessible for Patients with Hearing Loss

Discover how hospitals are making health care safer and more accessible for patients with hearing loss—and how you can advocate for yourself or your loved ones. Representatives from the Chicago Hospital Safety Program connected with the hearing loss community to share strategies and accommodations best practices that improve patient safety, communication and care. This interactive program fosters real dialogue, equips patients with tools to advocate for themselves and empowers health care professionals to strengthen accessibility and support a system that truly works for everyone.

Why watch this webinar?
• Learn best practices: Discover the accommodations Chicago hospitals provide and how patients can access them.
• Gain insights: Hear directly from patients about their communication challenges and needs.
• Collaborate & improve: Compare your hospital’s services with others and bring back actionable ideas to enhance patient care.
• Expand impact: Although based in Chicago, the advocacy tips and strategies discussed can be applied nationwide.

See panelist information below.

Webinar Handouts:

Panelists

Carlos A. Olvera, CHI

Manager, Interpreter Services
Co-Chair, ADA Task Force
Rush University Medical Center

Carlos Olvera became the first Spanish language interpreter at Rush University Medical Center in 2002. His leadership and commitment to excellence were instrumental in establishing Rush as a model for interpreter services across Chicago and the Midwest. As a person with bilateral hearing loss who uses hearing aids, he serves as co-chair of the Rush ADA Task Force, where he actively works to enhance accessibility for patients, visitors, and employees.

Patty McMahill, MHA, MT (ASCP)

Director of Clinical Integration
OSF HealthCare

Patty McMahill is director of clinical integration at OSF HealthCare, where she leads strategic programs that enhance patient care in clinical engineering, client devices and supply chain operations. She also oversees the Assistive Services Program, advancing equitable communication access for patients with disabilities and those with limited English proficiency across 17 hospitals and 150+ clinics.

Wendy Martell, MSN, RN

Program Manager, Magnet and Nursing Excellence
Nursing Professional Development and Advancement
Swedish Hospital

Wendy Martell is the program manager of Magnet & Nursing Excellence at Endeavor Health Swedish Hospital. She serves as liaison to the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC) and advises nursing leadership on sustaining magnet standards and strategies, oversees nursing quality and satisfaction data analysis, collaborates with clinical teams to drive improvements and mentors professional governance councils.

Ana Galli, MD, MA, CMI

Spanish Medical Interpreter
Interpretation Services
Northwestern Memorial Hospital

Dr. Galli is an international medical graduate (IMG) pediatrician with expertise in primary care, HIV/AIDS, infectious diseases and clinical research. She earned a master of arts degree in bioethics/medical ethics from Loyola University Chicago.

Moderator:

Elaine McCaffrey, Esq.

Treasurer, HLAA Board of Directors

Elaine volunteers as an advocate for patients with hearing loss and is passionate about communication access in medical and health care settings.

This HLAA HearingU webinar, presented by the Communication Access in Health Care (CAHC) program, took place on September 17, 2025.

NOTE: HLAA does not offer Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for participation in our webinars. HLAA webinars are intended for informational purposes only. For medical advice or diagnosis, or for mental health support, please consult a professional.