Medical Interpreter Services Equitable care for

Limited English Proficient Patients

Patients with limited English proficiency are almost twice as likely to suffer from adverse events in US hospitals, resulting in temporary harm or death.

C. Divi, R. G. Koss, S. P. Schmaltz et al., Language Proficiency and Adverse Events in U.S. Hospitals: A Pilot Study, International Journal for Quality in Health Care, April 2007 19(2):6067�

Partnering with professional medical interpreters has been shown to decrease length of stay and readmission rates in limited English proficient (LEP) patients.

Mary Lindholm et al. “Professional Language Interpretation and Inpatient Length of Stay and Readmission Rates.” Journal of General Internal Medicine 2012.

Did you know?

Access to professional interpreters Sharing best practices Integration of professional interpreters in

the care team

Challenges

Technology Communication Interdisciplinary Rounds

Addressing the challenges

IPOPs (Interpreter Phone on Pole) & VPOPs (Video Phone on Pole)

24/7 access to professional interpreters Enable direct communication with patients

and families

Technology

Internal focus◦ New mission, vision and guiding principles◦ Quality & safety training◦ Interpreter grand rounds◦ Quarterly newsletter

External focus◦ Increased visibility as part of the medical team◦ Work with staff on units to share best practices◦ Interpreter rounds

Communication

Scope of practice of each team member – a new focus

Increased visibility of the medical interpreter role in relationship based care, where patient and family are integral parts of the care team

Huddles

Interdisciplinary Rounds

Improve patient outcomes Improve nursing communication from the

patients perspective Improve patient satisfaction Deliver equitable care

Outcomes

Cultural RoundsDeborah Washington, PhD, RN

October 29, 2013

Purpose Bring Culturally informed education to units Develop a knowledge base to manage

clinical problems with cultural implications

Somali Female Circumcision

Formats Case presentation Review of documentation Job shadow

Frames for Value Patient Satisfaction/Family Engagement Patient Education Staff Satisfaction Quality and Safety

Outcomes Identification of skill sets related to cultural

competencies Identification of cultural interventions that

work Identification of care that is culturally

inappropriate Formation of unit based Learning Groups

Cultural Rounds Learning Group: Unit Based

Meet on a regular basis Has one guiding question for discussion Each participant summarizes discussion

points and 1 insight that influences clinical practice.

Questions?