Managing patients with limited English proficiency
- Collection:
- Health Policy and Services Research
- Series Title(s):
- Pennsylvania patient safety advisory
- Contributor(s):
- Pennsylvania. Patient Safety Authority. ECRI (Organization) Institute for Safe Medication Practices.
- Publication:
- [Harrisburg, Pa.] : Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority, c2011
- Language(s):
- English
- Format:
- Text
- Subject(s):
- Communication Barriers Cultural Competency Health Services Accessibility Language Needs Assessment Patient Care Management Professional-Patient Relations Guideline Adherence Guidelines as Topic Multilingualism Prejudice Translating Humans United States
- Genre(s):
- Technical Report
- Abstract:
- Language barriers impede access to healthcare, can compromise quality of care, and may increase the risk of adverse health outcomes among patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). Events reported to the Pennsylvania Patient Safety Authority from June 2004 through May 2010 were reviewed to determine what types of events most frequently affect patients with LEP. Falls, errors related to a surgical procedure, and medication errors composed the top three types of events reported for these patients during the time frame. Federal civil rights policy obligates healthcare providers to supply language services, and guidelines have been developed to help providers adhere to those requirements. Resources for language services, however, can be limited. Strategies that facilities can use to manage LEP patients include writing a clear plan, reviewing vital documents for languages most frequently spoken (e.g., informed consents), using interpreters, hiring and testing the language proficiency of bilingual staff, and educating staff on cultural awareness.
- Copyright:
- Reproduced with permission of the copyright holder. Further use of the material is subject to CC BY-NC-DC license. (More information)
- Illustrations:
- Illustrations
- NLM Unique ID:
- 101555798 (See catalog record)
- Permanent Link:
- http://resource.nlm.nih.gov/101555798