Oscar Arocha, senior executive, global strategic initiatives for Language Line Services
Bilingual nurses, techs and sometimes even family members are called upon to help bridge language barriers between patients and staff. The problem is these volunteers often lack training in medical interpretation which can lead to adverse health outcomes, writes Oscar Arocha in his third post in a multi-part series for HealthcareITNews.com about the new Joint Commission standards on language access requirements.
“There is very little understanding of the potential harm when there are misunderstandings of symptoms, the care plan, follow up and discharge instructions that specify correct medication dosage or usage,” writes Arocha, Language Line Services senior executive of global strategic initiatives, in the article. “Going through a consent process usually involves a conversation with technically challenging medical information that non-medical staff are simply not equipped to explain.”
Arocha believes bilingual staff must be medically trained in the medical terminology and accredited by the appropriate regulatory agencies. In January, The Joint Commission launched its New Standards on Patient-Centered Communication to help regulate patient interpretation needs. In order for this program to be successful, Arocha argues that ongoing investment, including third-party assessment of bilingual staff, is imperative.
