Assessing Interpreter Utilization Patterns among Clinicians at Women and Infants’ Hospital

Ben Brown, MD 2012Alpert Medical School of Brown UniversitynriAHEC Grantee, 2008-2009

October 21, 2009

Goals

• Assess how often clinicians (primarily nurses and physicians) utilize interpreters

• Assess how satisfied clinicians are with the interpretation options available to them

• Use these data as the basis for policy recommendations to provide better services to limited English proficiency (LEP) patients

Where we are now

• Data collected (digitally and on paper)

• Analysis underway:

• How often clinicians see LEP patients, use interpreters

• How satisfied they are with various interpretation methods

• Knowledge of ethical issues involved in interpretation / care of LEP patients

• Reasons why clinicians choose not to utilize an interprter

• Assessing how profession, department, ability to speak other languages, training in LEP issues affect these variables

In the last two weeks, approximately how many encounters have you had with adult limited English proficiency (LEP) patients?

In approximately how many of these encounters did you utilize a professional

interpreter (from Interpreter Services or a telephone interpretation company)?

In approximately how many of these encounters did you utilize an ad hoc

interpreter?

In approximately how many of these encounters did you perform your duties without yourself speaking the patient’s

language and without utilizing an interpreter of any kind?

In general, when speaking with LEP patients through an interpreter, did

you feel you accomplished what you set out to in your encounter?

(n=128)

In general, when speaking with LEP patients through an interpreter, did

you feel your patients accomplished what they set out to

in your encounter? (n=133)

In general, when speaking with LEP patients without an interpreter, did

you feel you accomplished what you set out to in your encounter?

(n=104)

In general, when speaking with LEP patients without an interpreter, did

you feel your patients accomplished what they set out to

in your encounter? (n=104)

Who do you believe has the primary responsibility for ensuring that an

interpreter is available when an LEP patient comes to seek care? (n=144)

Thank You Questions?