Language access services for Latinos with limited English proficiency: lessons learned from Hablamos Juntos.
BACKGROUND
The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation funded Hablamos Juntos (HJ), a $10-million multiyear demonstration to improve access to health care for Latinos with limited English proficiency and to explore cost-effective ways for health care organizations to provide language access services.
In this manuscript, the authors draw on their experiences in evaluating HJ, provide brief descriptions of innovative interventions, estimate operating costs, and synthesize lessons learned about implementation. A number of barriers and facilitators are documented.


CONCLUSIONS
The experience of HJ grantees provides guidance for organizations contemplating similar efforts. In particular, it highlights the need for health care organizations to involve physicians in the design and adoption of language services.
Wu
Shinyi
S
RAND Corporation, P.O. Box 2138, Santa Monica, CA 90407-2138, USA.
Ridgely
M Susan
MS
Escarce
José J
JJ
Morales
Leo S
LS
D001291:Attitude of Health Personnel; D003144:Communication Barriers; D003406:Credentialing; D054521:Cultural Competency / Q000458:organization & administration*; D005582:Foundations; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D019982:Organizational Case Studies; D016730:Program Development / Q000379:methods*; D015397:Program Evaluation; D014175:Translating; D014481:United States