Abstract
Professional language interpreters are skilled in the nuances of interpretation and are less likely to make errors of clinical significance but clinicians infrequently use them. We examine system-level factors that may shape clinicians' perceptions and use of professional interpreters. Exploratory qualitative study in 12 California public hospitals. We conducted in-person key informant interviews with hospital leadership, clinical staff, and administrative staff. Five emergent themes highlight system-level factors that may influence clinicians' perceptions and use of professional interpreters in hospitals: (1) organization-wide commitment to improving language access for LEP patients; (2) organizational investment in remote interpreter technologies to increase language access; (3)training clinicians on how to access and work with interpreters; (4) hospital supports the training and certification of bilingual staff to serve as interpreters to expand in-person, on-site, interpreter capacity; and (5)organizational investment in readily accessible telephonic interpretation. Multiple system-level factors underlie clinicians' use of professional interpreters. Interventions that target these factors could improve language services for patients with limited English proficiency.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 211-217 |
Number of pages | 7 |
Journal | Journal of Immigrant and Minority Health |
Volume | 16 |
Issue number | 2 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - Apr 2014 |
Keywords
- Clinicians
- Hospitals
- Language services
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Epidemiology
- Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health