Going to the doctor is stressful, especially if you don’t speak the same language as your provider.
Think about all the complicated topics that come up during a doctor’s visit, like post-surgery recovery instructions or medication side effects. Communicating in the patient’s primary language is key to making sure they get the best patient care possible.
In this article, we will discuss ALTA’s innovative language services for healthcare organizations that help patients access higher-quality care.
What are Examples of Language Access tools for Healthcare Providers?
Healthcare providers need innovative medical language services to communicate effectively with patients. Healthcare professionals can utilize ALTA’s innovative language access tools to provide patient-centered care and improve health outcomes.
One of ALTA’s new language access tools is the Rapid Healthcare Discharge Portal. ALTA is piloting this tool to help break down language barriers during the discharge process.
When patients are discharged from the hospital, they are given patient forms with detailed instructions for their recovery. However, when patients are given forms in a language they don’t understand, they may not know what steps to take to heal. This can lead to poor health outcomes or readmission to the hospital.
ALTA created the Rapid Healthcare Discharge Portal to improve the discharge process for providers and patients who don’t speak the same language.
Discharge documents are added to ALTA’s portal. From there, ALTA’s translation team provides rapid translations and turns the documents around within 30 minutes. These translations are priced per word, and anyone interested can reach out to [email protected] for more information.
The Rapid Healthcare Discharge Portal is just one of the many innovative healthcare language services that ALTA provides. ALTA also offers access to on-demand medical interpreters that allows healthcare providers to call a medical interpreter on-demand, 24/7.
ALTA recently launched an integration with many different video platforms for on-demand interpretation services. Current healthcare organization integrations include Zoom (OPI and VRI), Cisco, and Webex/GoTo Meeting for OPI. ALTA plans to integrate these services in the near future with EHR/EMR systems like Epic and Microsoft Teams.
This new integration is an important step for closing the language gap for providers and patients with Limited English Proficiency(LEP).
What is the Importance of Language Assistance in Healthcare?
Clear healthcare information in a language patients can understand is key to a good patient experience and health outcomes. Language barriers can increase the risk of negative health outcomes for people with limited English proficiency.
From the front desk staff to nurses and doctors, patients encounter many different professionals during a healthcare appointment. Every interaction is important, and if any of the providers have insufficient bilingual communication skills, patients may be confused or not receive the right level of care.
Language assistance helps break down language barriers and improves access to equitable healthcare for all patients. ALTA is a one-stop shop for language access in healthcare and offers on-site interpretation, over-the-phone interpretation services (OPI), and video remote interpretation services (VRI).
In addition to providing professional interpretation services, ALTA also offers language tests targeted specifically for healthcare providers.
Sure, a healthcare provider can say they speak a second language, but if they haven’t been tested, they might be relying on language skills that may not safely and effectively treat patients. The only way to know if a provider is bilingual is by conducting a language assessment.
Language assessments are designed for each specific role in a healthcare setting. Different assessments are available for front desk staff, nurses, doctors, pharmacy staff, behavioral health staff, and medical interpreters.
Once healthcare professionals pass the appropriate language assessment, you can rest assured that each patient’s language needs are being met and critical information is being delivered by bilingual providers with subject matter expertise.
What is the Best Medical Interpretation Service?
Medical interpretation services are essential for health equity. Patients can’t make informed healthcare decisions when they don’t have the necessary information in a language they can understand. People with limited English proficiency rely on medical interpreters for critical healthcare information.
Without medical interpreters, patients with limited English proficiency sometimes ask bilingual family members for help, which creates a situation in which patients may not be fully comfortable discussing their care, and family members may not interpret objectively.
ALTA is a trusted name in the medical interpretation industry. We have a team of 24-hour on-call interpreters who can communicate with patients with limited English proficiency. On-site interpretation services are also available for medical consultations.
Medical interpretation services are crucial, but it is also helpful to have bilingual staff members. ALTA is a leader in medical interpretation services and can train medical interpreters for healthcare organizations.
ALTA’s 40-hour or 80-hour medical interpreter training program is great for new interpreters or current interpreters who want to brush up on their skills. This 40-hour course is available in 13 languages, and the 80-hour course is offered in 7 languages.
The interactive web-based lessons are fun and allow learners to move at their own pace. Once a week, students can connect with a teacher during a live session.
At the end of the training program, medical interpreters will earn a Certificate of Qualification and be eligible to take certain national certification exams.
Why Choose ALTA’s Healthcare Language Services?
ALTA Language Services understands that language access is an essential way for healthcare systems to provide equitable medical care.
Our language services are well-respected in the healthcare industry. Many organizations turn to ALTA for high-quality, quick, and affordable language services services. ALTA-trained interpreters meet standards set by the Joint Commission, the Affordable Care Act, and the Department of Health and Human Services (CLAS Standards).
ALTA has developed innovative language services for healthcare organizations to help patients access higher-quality care. The new integrations and Rapid Healthcare Discharge Portal are game-changing services for hospitals and health organizations.
Contact our team today if you are interested in ALTA’s language services, language testing, or medical interpretation training courses.
Stephanie Brown is a New York City-based travel blogger and freelance content creator. You can find her at The Adventuring Millennial.