Assessment of the efficiency of language interpreter services in a busy surgical and procedural practice

Christopher M Burkle,Daniel A Tschida-Reuter,Kathleen A Anderson,Andrea E Guerra,Yapa Xiong

doi:10.1186/s12913-017-2425-7

Christopher M Burkle, Daniel A Tschida-Reuter + Show 3 more

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-017-2425-7

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Abstract

BackgroundSurgical and procedural patient care settings require efficient patient flow. The primary goal of this study was to assess use and efficiency of language services for our limited English proficiency (LEP) patients undergoing surgical and outpatient procedures.MethodsPatient language services needs were recorded from our operating room and procedural locations over a two and a half month period in 2016. Time from in-person interpreter request to arrival was recorded. Frequency of language service modality used and reason for telephone and professional video remote interpreting (VRI) rather than in person professional services was queried.ResultsMean time from in-person interpreter request until arrival was 19 min. Variation was high. No cases were cancelled due to lack of available interpretive services and no LEP patient underwent a procedure without requested interpretative service assistance.ConclusionsTime for in person professional interpreter assistance was short but highly variable. Access to telephone interpretive services and VRI services ensured assistance when in person interpreters were immediately unavailable.With the numbers of LEP patients increasing over time along with any new mandates for providing language assistance, the stress on hospital patient service units and the financial implications for many health care facilities will likely continue as challenges.

Highlights

Surgical and procedural patient care settings require efficient patient flow
The final rules released on language services under the Section 1557 of the Affordable Care Act of 2010 by the Department of Health and Human Services Office of Civil Rights strengthens and clarifies the obligations required to provide language services and to ensure that they are meaningful [1, 6]
Given that financial burden is often highlighted as a limitation in providing language assistance services to limited English proficiency (LEP) patients, we explored the cost to our institution associated with providing interpretive services over the study period

Summary

Introduction

The primary goal of this study was to assess use and efficiency of language services for our limited English proficiency (LEP) patients undergoing surgical and outpatient procedures. It is estimated that 24 million people in the United States have limited English proficiency (LEP) [1]. These individuals may have difficulty communicating with health care providers resulting in compromised patient safety and overall poorer health outcomes [1,2,3,4,5]. Many states require some form of language assistance for LEP patients [7]

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