Medical Interpreters Are Needed To Assist With Discharge Instructions

Medical Interpreters are needed in the healthcare industry primarily to increase positve treatment outcomes (access) for LEP (limited English proficiency) patients.  However, treatment is never complete unless the outcomes of said treatment is a positve one.  LEP patient understanding of discharge instructions is pivotal in completing the treatment process.

Healthcare providers are constantly revisiting this topic in order to increase the positve outcomes when treating LEP patients. The Medical Interpreter is the key to increasing the treatment outcomes for LEP patients after discharge from a healthcare facility.  However, hospital staff and interpreters must work together to insure that discharge instructions are understood.  In addition,  both parties must work together to followup with patients after being discharged from the healthcare facility.

Studies point to the need for continued work where discharge instructions is concerned.  Patient understanding and follow through is extremely important and related to increasing positive treatment outcomes.  Healthcare providers must do more and involve the Medical Interpreter in the process of developing new strategies for addressing this issue.

The following is the outcome of a study related to the understanding of discharge instructions by LEP patients. Please review it and share the data. I'm certain you will agree that new strategies are needed.

Language barriers and understanding of hospital discharge instructions.

Karliner LS, Auerbach A, Nápoles A, Schillinger D, Nickleach D, Pérez-Stable EJ.

Source

Department of Medicine, Medical Effectiveness Research Center for Diverse Populations, Division of General Internal Medicine, USA.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

Effective communication at hospital discharge is necessary for an optimal transition and to avoid adverse events. We investigated the association of a language barrier with patient understanding of discharge instructions.

METHODS:

Spanish-speaking, Chinese-speaking, and English-speaking patients admitted to 2 urban hospitals between 2005 and 2008, comparing patient understanding of follow-up appointment type, and medication category and purpose between limited English-proficient (LEP) and English-proficient patients.

RESULTS:

Of the 308 patients, 203 were LEP. Rates of understanding were low overall for follow-up appointment type (56%) and the 3 medication outcomes (category 48%, purpose 55%, both 41%). In unadjusted analysis, LEP patients were less likely than English-proficient patients to know appointment type (50% vs. 66%; P=0.01), medication category (45% vs. 54%; P=0.05), and medication category and purpose combined (38% vs. 47%; P=0.04), but equally likely to know medication purpose alone. These results persisted in the adjusted models for medication outcomes: LEP patients had lower odds of understanding medication category (odds ratio 0.63; 95% confidence interval, 0.42-0.95); and category/purpose (odds ratio 0.59; 95% confidence interval, 0.39-0.89).

CONCLUSIONS:

Understanding of appointment type and medications after discharge was low, with LEP patients demonstrating worse understanding of medications. System interventions to improve communication at hospital discharge for all patients, and especially those with LEP, are needed.

PMID:

 

22411441

 

[PubMed - indexed for MEDLINE] 

PMCID:

 

PMC3311126

 [Available on 2013/4/1]

Publication Types, MeSH Terms, Grant Support

Translations

Interpreters are often requested to translate written documents from one language to another. This is not a task for those without experience. It is very difficult and requires a knowledge of both the written and target language at at least a college level.  However, not just in one language but in both.  This comes only through formal study and lots of practice.

Even when one is a very good interpreter one can still be a very bad translator.  So it is recommended that before one embarks on this type of endeavor that one take several courses prior.  Or you can train with a professional who can teach a guide you through the development phase.

Now if you are currently employed as an interpreter and there is a person who has that skill in your office.  They can mentor you so that you can develop this skill slowly.  They can assign you small translation assignments and review it with you once completed to discuss how the translation can be improved and correct any errors.  Another approach would be to assign more than one person to translate a document and review it with both parties. These are just a few practical ways to develop this skill.  However, be forewarned, it takes many years to become a proficient translator.

Assignment Preparation

As medical interpreters you may be assigned to or hired for a particular job. For instance you may need to provide coverage for a clinic such as Pediatric Cardiology, TB or Chest Clinic, Pediatric Neurology, Breast Biopsy, or a whole host of others.  These assignments present particular challenges for interpreters.  

Knowledge of terminology in theses particular areas is just a start in the proficient performance of your duties.  In fact, you must understand in detail the process or procedures that are to be performed in these clinics. Personal experience has demonstrated a real need for knowledge and preparation prior to performing these assignments.  Keeping up with the dialogue may be extremely difficult if one lacks the knowledge or has not prepared.  You can use informational pamphlets to prepare or go online and edify yourself using one or more of the many resources available to the public on health topics.

So prepare for each assignment prior to performing the duties.  Remember that you will leave a lasting impression on the provider and patient.  You want this impression to be a positive and professional one.  Your ability to perform well during these assignments may determine whether or not you"ll be called back for additional assignments.  If you work for an organization a poor performance may have a negative impact on the ability of the organization to attain future contracts with health organizations.  This will affect your earnings, as well as, theirs.