As telehealth services expand their reach in the United States, language access continues to be an important factor in providing effective care for the 25.1 million limited-English proficient individuals in the United States. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) has broadened access to Medicare telehealth services so that beneficiaries can receive a wider range of services from
The need for language services in healthcare settings begins when there is a language barrier with a limited-English proficient patient that impacts communication. When language barriers arise in healthcare, professional interpretation and translation services need to be utilized at every step of a patient’s care for compliance with Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act, which
Court interpreters are vital in legal proceedings. Court qualified interpreters provide communication and understanding for limited-English proficient and deaf and hard-of-hearing court participants. In short, court interpreters help all people involved to understand the proceedings, regardless of the language they speak. Interpreting services in legal and judicial settings can be provided by an on-site interpreter,
This week we all have an opportunity to protect language access in healthcare for minority populations by submitting comments to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) on a proposed plan to remove safeguards against discrimination in healthcare. 9% of the United States population is limited in their use of the English language,
Pharmacies are a vital part of the healthcare industry, and they play a key role in patient health. The role of pharmacists has evolved along with the health care needs of our population, and that includes serving linguistically diverse populations. Pharmacy language access – including interpretation and translation services – is more important than ever.
Many rural area hospitals in the United States face unique challenges that must be overcome in order to deliver the highest quality care to patients. According to the American Hospital Association, about 20% of Americans live in rural areas without easy access to primary care or specialist medical services. For example, the number of physicians
The increase of foreign-born populations and linguistic diversity in the U.S. has led to higher numbers of limited English proficient (LEP) patients. One in five United States residents speaks a non-English language at home, and 25 million people in the U.S. speak English “less than very well.” What does this mean in a health care
Handling transitions in care for LEP patients…communication is key! Communication in health care settings is especially important when patients experience transitions in care. When patients move to another care setting or are discharged from the hospital, a thorough understanding of discharge instructions is necessary for patient compliance. But for patients with limited English proficiency, transitions
Medicare and Language Access – Open Enrollment for Medicare begins October 15th, 2018 and ends on December 7, 2018. Why are Medicare and language access so important during this period? 8% of the 57 million U.S. residents enrolled in Medicare are limited English proficient. Navigating healthcare can be confusing for anyone, but for Limited-English proficient populations, communication barriers make
How do language barriers affect hospital readmissions rates? More than 60 million Americans speak a language other than English at home, and 41% of this population (8% of the total U.S. population) have limited English proficiency (LEP). The increase in LEP patients in the U.S. can present communication barriers for healthcare systems to overcome in
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