Resident Physician NYU Langone Hospital-Long Island Mineola, New York, United States
Background: Patients with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) represent a highly vulnerable group, facing risks of medical errors and inferior clinical outcomes compared to English-proficient patients. With more than 100 languages spoken in the United States, it is not always possible to achieve language concordance between patients and providers. Therefore, providers must use other means to communicate with LEP patients. Providers recognize they are unintentionally providing worse care to patients with LEP when not utilizing an interpreter. However, they often cite various barriers to using interpreters. Objective: To improve use of interpreter in patients with LEP during hospital admission from a median of 55% to above 85% by December 2023 on a pediatric floor at an academic medical center. Design/Methods: In February 2023, our pediatric unit went live with a new Electronic Medical Record (EMR)-integrated interpreter service, Voyce. The new system reduced common barriers to using interpreter services such as decreased wait time, auto-collecting patient and provider information, and ability to launch interpreter services from patient charts and multiple devices like computers and phones. Providers were educated using online training modules. Additionally, in September 2023, we conducted a focused training session for residents. Currently, our project is scoped to pediatric floor admissions and we measure documentation of interpreter use in our H&P notes. Our median interpreter usage in patients with LEP has improved from a baseline of 55% (Aug 2022 to Jan 2023) to 75% in the past 3 months. The ability to provide patients with interpreter services in their preferred language promotes health equity amongst all of our patients. By working in partnership with our Medical Center Information Technology and clinical leadership, we have improved access to high quality interpreter services for our providers. We are continuing to improve awareness around use of the new system through just-in-time training, feedback, and patient education on their rights to request interpreter services.
