The National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC www.nachc.com), and the Association of Clinicians for the Underserved (ACU www.clinicians.org), recently released the findings of two reports that focus on the challenges of serving people with limited English proficiency (LEP) and the barriers that must be addressed to ensure access to quality health care and better health outcomes.

Among the findings of the NACHC study are:

• Community Health Centers serve large LEP populations even in states that on average have few people with limited English skills.
• Three-fourths of Community Health Centers that provide language access services estimate that more than ten percent of their active patient population has LEP.
• Community Health Centers hire staff to address the language needs of their patients but often find it challenging to recruit them.

The reports were funded by the National Health Law Program (NHeLP www.healthlaw.org) under a grant from The California Endowment and which can be found at here.

A study published in the June issue of Pediatrics magazine found that children from homes where English is not the primary language suffer from more health and dental problems and have less access to healthcare.

Of the 100,000 contacted for the survey, 43 percent of non-English-speaking households reported that their children were not in excellent or good health, compared to 12 percent of English-speaking households.

This results in missed school days and missed work days, which has huge economic repercussions considering the immigrant population is growing at an exponential rate. Without the ability to communicate their symptoms to a healthcare professional, more children will end up suffering due to the language barriers they face.

The link between the quality of language services and the quality of medical care for limited English proficient (LEP) patients is irrefutable.

Speaking Together: National Language Services, a national initiative funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, recently published two reports in its ongoing effort to improve the delivery of language services to reduce health care disparities in America.

These reports...

• "In Any Language: Improving the quality and availability of language services in hospitals" and
• "Patients Give Feedback on Language Services at Ten Hospitals"

...demonstrate how hospitals can monitor performance and realize measurable improvements in the delivery of language services to patients.

Georgia Hospital Health Services earlier this month endorsed the Language LineŽ Video Interpreter Service, saying to its membership "Language Line Services offers products and services that assist Georgia hospitals meeting interpretation requirements in treating their patients. GHHS has been working with Language Line since 2002 and they have demonstrated a great impact in the largest and smallest hospitals in Georgia and across the nation."

GHHS asked: "Is your facility providing 'Equivalent Healthcare' services to Georgia's Deaf and Hard of Hearing population?" and recommended the Language LineŽ Video Interpreter.

"Trying to find an American Sign Language (ASL) interpreter can take time due to availability and travel, and there may be no assurance that the interpreter meets required standards. Language Line Services can provide you with a 'Real Time' solution that is both qualified and cost effective."

Language Line Services Helping Hospitals Comply with State Regulations with On-Demand Video Interpreters in American Sign Language

Monterey, CA - (June 11, 2008) - Language Line Services, the leading provider of language interpreting services, is working with New York State hospitals to help them communicate with deaf and hearing impaired patients via its Language LineŽ Video Interpreter Service, providing quick connection to live, certified American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters through a portable video monitor.

Since September 13, 2006, state regulations have required hospitals to provide interpreters for patients with hearing impairments within a set amount of time in order to ensure equal and meaningful access to medical care and services.

Read the rest of the story here.

Nebraska Association for Translators & Interpreters

9th Annual Regional Conference (July 24-26, 2008). Hosted The by the University of Nebraska at Kearney

Specialty Focus

• Building the Foundation for Bilingual Careers and Businesses
• Translator and Interpreter Skill-Set Strengthening
• Language Proficiency / Exam Prep / Career Development

Trainings

• Translation Theory
• Interpreting In Domestic Violence Cases
• Computer Technology And Translation
• Medical & Legal Interpreting Vocabulary
• Working With Law Enforcement
• How To Become An Interpreter
• How To Be A Successful Independent Contractor

Language Line Services' president Louis Provenzano is a guest speaker.

More details here

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