Challenges in language services: identifying and responding to patients' needs.
OBJECTIVE
Identify characteristics of hospital-based language services (LS), and describe practices of identifying patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) and interpreter training. Participants Seventy-one hospitals applied to participate in a national initiative. Applicants were non-federal, acute care hospitals with substantial LEP populations, at least 10,000 discharges, and in-person interpreters.


METHODS
Descriptive statistics were generated on language, collection of language data, LEP volume and service utilization, staffing and training requirements and organizational structure. The relationship between admissions and encounters was analyzed.


RESULTS
Ninety percent of hospitals collect primary language data. Spanish is the most common language (93% of hospitals). We found no statistically significant correlation between admissions and encounters. Eighty-four percent require training. Eighty-nine percent have a designated LS department but no clear organizational home.


CONCLUSIONS
Hospital-based LS programs are facing challenges identifying patients with language needs, staffing and training a workforce, and creating an organizational identity. Need is not associated with utilization, suggesting that LS are not reaching patients.
Department of Health Policy, The George Washington University Medical Center, Washington, DC 20037, USA. marshar@gwu.edu
Marsha
M
Regenstein
Holly
H
Mead
Kathryn E
KE
Muessig
Jennifer
J
Huang
D003142:Communication; D006739:Hospital Administration; D006742:Hospital Bed Capacity; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training / Q000458:organization & administration; D007802:Language; D010561:Personnel Staffing and Scheduling / Q000458:organization & administration; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D014175:Translating; D014481:United States