Medical Interpretation Resource Guide
Assessment
How do I assess where my organization stands regarding Medical Interpretation?
There is no one model for providing language services that will work for every organization. Health care organizations serve various populations and have different levels of resources. All health care organizations, however, should have a plan for providing access to people with limited English Proficiency (LEP). The plan should be structured with written policies to assist staff in understanding expectations and providing guidance on how to meet patients needs. Assessment of language needs and organizational resources is a key first step in developing a plan. Once the results from the assessments are compiled, action steps can be prioritized.
What types of procedures and/or tools are important?
- Marketing materials or brochures that are translated in the most commonly spoken languages of your patients
- Notification of the right to an interpreter at no charge in the patients' primary language
- Identification of language needs
- Patient self identification such as wallet cards
- Language Identification charts
- Identification of when different methods of service delivery are appropriate ("Language Line" vs. face to face interpretation)
- Proper documentation in medical record
- Translation
- Training
- Data collection
- Intake procedures
- Process for assuring customer satisfaction
Questions you can ask:
- How many of our patients speak languages other than English as their primary language?
- What foreign languages are predominant in our community?
- Do our patients experience problems with accessing health care due to language barriers?
- If so, what policies, procedures, and systems are in place to assist patients who have limited English proficiency?v
- How do we communicate with our staff about serving patients with limited English proficiency?
- What cultural health beliefs might impact the provision of care?
- Do providers feel that they provide quality health care to all patients, regardless of their ability to speak English?
- How well do we explain the law regarding a patient's right to a medical interpreter to our front desk and clinical staff?
- How have we assessed staff's ability to adhere to established policies?
- Is there a difference between what the policies say and the reality of how service is delivered?
- Is our monitoring and evaluation system effective?
Resources:
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