Medical Interpretation Resource Guide

Data Collection

What role does data collection play in assuring language access?

Disparities in health care exist and are reported nationally. However, if data is not collected on an organizational, local or statewide basis, then it is difficult to develop interventions to minimize these disparities. The Institute of Medicine Report "Unequal Treatment: Confronting Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Health" recommends data collection and research as well as cross-cultural education as strategies for overcoming health disparities. The data collection process itself can be challenging. Not only does it mean changes to management information systems, but also to intake & registration procedures. In addition to learning how to use the new computer fields, staff will need additional training in order to collect ethnic, racial and linguistic information in a culturally appropriate manner. Many individuals may be uncomfortable with asking questions about race, ethnicity and language as they feel it may be construed as a form of discrimination. However, with proper training, they can become more comfortable in asking these important questions. Collection of race, ethnicity and primary language data is supported by CLAS standard #10. "Health Care Organizations should ensure that data on the individual patient's/consumer's race, ethnicity, and spoken and written language are collected in health records, integrated into the organization's management information systems and periodically updated."

What are some things your organization can do to collect data?

• During the intake process, in addition to asking about race and ethnicity, ask each patient "what is your preferred language?" and "what is your country of origin?"
• Identify the "high-volume" languages spoken in your community and the frequency you need to offer interpretation services.
• Record patients' primary language in patient chart and related organization files.
• Collect input from patients about appropriateness of services. Conduct client satisfaction surveys and/or focus groups in the patient's primary language.
• Develop ongoing systems of collecting data regarding medical interpretation as part of your organization's performance improvement plan.
• Analyze public health trends and use the data to inform your chronic disease management plans and other plans to expand or change services provided at your facility.

The collection and analysis of information will assist your organization in making important decisions about service provision. Resources

• U.S. Census: http://census.gov
• National Health Law Program: NHeLP: "US Census Data collection - What data is available and why we need it.", www.healthlaw.org
• Office of Minority Health: Assessment of State Laws, Regulations and Practices Affecting the Collection and Reporting of Racial and Ethnic Data by Health Insurers and Managed Care Plans, December 31, 2002, www.omhrc.gov/cultural/project51/newhampshire.pdf
• New Hampshire Minority Health Coalition Research and Evaluation Reports: "Disparities in Health: A Growing Reality for New Hampshire" September 2004, Data Report on the Health of African Descendents & Latinos in Hillsborough County NH, April 2004, www.nhhealthequity.org/prore.html
• Assuring cultural competence in health care: Recommendations for National Standards, Office of Minority Health, www.omhrc.gov/clas
• Institute of Medicine. "Unequal Treatment: Confronting Rural and Ethnic Disparities in Health Care" March 2002, www.nap.edu
• Department of Health and Human Services, Center for Disease Control and Prevention Morbidity and Mortality Weekly Report, http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr
• A Tool Kit For Collecting Race, Ethnicity and Primary Language Information from patients, www.hretdisparities.org/hretdisparities/html/general/index.html
• City of Manchester Department of Health, Public Health Report Card "Snapshots of Social & Economic Well-Being by Race & Ethnicity in our community, Sept 2004 - 603-624-6466 or www.manchesternh.gov/citygov/hlt/home.html
• Assessing Language Interpretation Capacity Among NH Health Care Providers, November 2004, www.endowmentforhealth.org
• Interpretation Initiative: A Report to the Community on the Interpretation Needs of Greater Manchester, Heritage United Way 603-625-6939