Silent Warmth: Baoshan Medical Staff Remove the "Mountain" Blocking Access to Care

Shanghai is home to as many as 94,000 people with hearing and speech impairments, yet only 20 certified professional sign language interpreters are working across the city. The Baoshan Branch of Renji Hospital has taken the initiative to break through this barrier by building an accessible medical communication model. Medical staff learn basic sign language in their spare time, while young volunteers from Shanghai University's sign language club help facilitate consultations.

For literate elderly deaf-mute patients, staff communicate through handwriting and typing, and hearing-impaired patients able to speak are engaged as communication bridges. The team has also produced extensive illustrated health education materials and rehabilitation guides, complemented by body language. After more than half a year of sustained effort, over 100 deaf-mute patients have sought help at the hospital, and its first dedicated free consultation session for deaf-mute patients was successfully held.

The social work department said it will continue mapping patient needs and refining consultation procedures to put convenient medical services into practice, so that these patients no longer fear seeing a doctor.