Although 63% of hospitals treat patients with limited English proficiency daily or weekly, only 3% receive direct reimbursement for language services, according to results of a national survey conducted by AHA’s Health Research and Educational Trust. A majority of hospitals (82%) said they used staff interpreters most often to communicate with patients, usually via telephone. Not being able to predict when patients required interpreters and cost were the most frequently cited barriers to providing adequate language services.
The surveyed hospitals said they wanted training on how to respond to patients with limited English, as well as on cultural competency, and a third reported that they had embarked on initiatives to improve language services. “Hospitals that commit to providing high-quality language services to their patients likely will be rewarded with greater patient and staff satisfaction, which can provide them with a competitive advantage as demographics of the United States continue to change,” concludes the report.
