Population Dynamics Are Changing the Profile of Rural Areas

An influx of retirees and ethnic populations brings both challenges and benefits to small-town America.

"Rural Americans can be Norwegian bachelor farmers. They can also be Hispanic meatpackers, Indian computer programmers."

"Almost all of the 50,000 residents of Starr County, Texas, are Hispanic. Nonmetro Hispanics have concentrated in the Southwest for centuries; more recent immigrants have settled in metro areas, notably Los Angeles, Miami, Chicago, and New York.

"In the past two decades, however, native- and foreign-born Hispanics have settled in new nonmetro destinations, including counties in the rural Midwest and the Southeast."

An article from the United States Department of Agriculture, Economic Research Service.

A Second Article: "Rural Hispanics At A Glance"

What do you do before the language interpreter arrives?

In this era of YouTubeŽ and all things video, you had to know this unique patient-care solution would soon come to you.

With the exciting, new Language LineŽ HealthPort, hospitals, medical offices and caregivers now have an easy-to-use, software-based solution to communicate with limited English speaking patients - until an interpreter arrives.

Language LineŽ HealthPort lets you easily ask and answer hundreds of questions of your patient or family member, and provide sophisticated instructions both onscreen and in print form in the language your patient clearly understands.

Here's a list of just some of the healthcare professionals who will soon be using the Language LineŽ HealthPort daily:

• Nurses - to communicate with patients throughout the encounter
• Medical assistants - to gather information from patient prior to doctor's examination
• Physicians - to ask specific questions, explain diagnoses, and provide treatment options
• Registration personnel - to collect patient information
• Radiologists - to instruct patient on proper body positioning for X-rays
• Pharmacists - to explain medication instructions
• Phlebotomists - to explain what to expect during blood sample draws
• Technicians - to explain procedures for various other tests
• Discharge staff - to provide discharge instructions
• Finance personnel - to explain and collect financial information

For more information about the Language Line HealthPort, visit http://languageline.com/page/healthport/ and download this product information sheet.

Attention interpreters - Here is your opportunity to tell us what you, the interpreter, think of National Medical Interpreter Certification.

As a first step, a simple survey has been developed as a "Needs Assessment".

This survey guarantees complete anonymity and results will be reported only in an aggregate format.

Please take a few moments, now, and tell us what you think.

You can find the survey at www.nmictf.org.

The survey report will be released here after May 1st.

Ask your colleagues and co-workers to take the survey too. Thank you!

Joint Commission Report: National Strategies Needed to Better Serve Increasingly Diverse Patient Population in American Hospitals.

(OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill. - March 29, 2007) A new Joint Commission report recommends targeted strategies to address language and cultural issues that increasingly pose challenges to hospitals seeking to deliver safe, effective care to diverse American population.

The recommendations in "Hospitals, Language, and Culture: A Snapshot of the Nation" result from a study of how 60 hospitals across the country are providing health care to culturally and linguistically diverse patient populations.

The project examined the challenges of providing care and services to populations that may not speak the same language or share the same customs; how hospitals are addressing these challenges; and promising practices that can be used by hospitals across the country. [posted on Joint Commission hlc email list]

To view this complete news release and report, please visit www.jointcommission.org/

Beginning this month, and throughout the year, Language Line Services will celebrate its 25th Anniversary.

Each issue of In Other Words will feature a brief story or interview about how our company came about.

How a San Jose police officer originally launched our company in 1982 as a volunteer organization. How and why the first language we ever interpreted was Vietnamese. And, many other stories.

This month's topic is our company's hometown of Monterey, California and why Monterey is called "The Language Capital of the World"

Monterey is perhaps best known for its world famous Monterey Bay Aquarium and its close proximity to Pebble Beach Golf Course, but for those who study and teach the world's languages, Monterey is truly where the action is.

Language Line Services is but one language asset of the Monterey Peninsula. To learn more about such educational jewels of California's Central Coast as the Monterey Institute of International Studies, the U.S. Army Defense Language Institute and the Naval Postgraduate School, we invite you to visit the official website of "Monterey, Language Capital of the World" now.

See you next issue!

The March issue of "In Other Words" included an unintended misstatement in the article entitled "Language Line University Supports MMIA".

The opening line (referring to Language Line Services' Interpreter Skills Test) used the term "endorsed" by the Massachusetts Medical Interpreters Association (MMIA).

The term "endorsed" should not have been used. With due respect to MMIA and its members, we issue this statement of correction, and apologize for any concern or confusion this may have created.

To further clarify, here is the text that appeared in the March 2007 MMIA eNews:

"Would You Like To Evaluate Your Consecutive Interpreting Skills?

"As an MMIA member, you have a new benefit. Language Line will offer you a discount if you wish to be tested by them. You can be tested remotely by phone and a diagnostic results report will be sent to you. The MMIA does not endorse this test, nor does it replace our upcoming certification process, which will include the skills required of a professional medical interpreter. Notwithstanding, the MMIA seeks to empower interpreters by informing them of the various products that are available in the market to prepare them for future certification. In order to receive the discount, you will need to type in MMIA in the registration form under company. To register, please go to https://www.languageline.com/page/llu_test_registration/."

"In Other Words" readers: Do you have a comment or question about this article? Write to us at healthletter@languageline.com

Each month you'll receive our free monthly email newsletter featuring news, tips, interviews, surveys, stats, special offers and other useful information to help you better serve your limited English-speaking patients.

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