Improving Quality of Health Care Relies on Effective Language Services
Publication Date: October 2007
Publisher: Speaking Together; Robert Wood Johnson Foundation
Author(s):
Research Area: Health
Type: Report
Abstract:
In order to achieve the outcomes that doctors want—and patients expect—all parties must be able to communicate effectively and clearly understand each other—from explaining symptoms and potential treatments, to relaying medication allergies and instructions for follow-up care. Many health care experts believe that assessing and improving the language services offered to patients in America's hospitals will not only improve communications, but can significantly improve the quality of patient care.
Speaking Together: National Language Services Network, a Robert Wood Johnson Foundation national program, is helping 10 hospitals nationwide identify, test and assess strategies to effectively provide language services to patients with limited English proficiency (LEP). This issue brief highlights how data are helping hospitals improve the way they provide language services to America's increasingly diverse patient populations.
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