Transcript Bridging the Communication Gap between the Patient and

Justine B. Valerio
American Sentinel University
Increase number of individuals
with limited English proficiency
Frequent use of ad hoc
interpreters
Underutilization of language
services by healthcare providers
due to lack of awareness
Medical errors and lawsuits
contribute to patient-provider
miscommunication
Cultural and linguistic diversity,
having more than 100 languages
in the U.S.A.
To raise awareness among healthcare providers with
the use of language services
 To increase staff knowledge about the legal
regulations
 To eliminate HIPAA violation by not using ad hoc
interpreters
 For the staff to effectively utilize language services
 To improve patient-provider communication
 To decrease medical errors
 To increase patient safety
 To increase quality of care
 To increase patient satisfaction

Increased awareness of
language resources
among healthcare
professionals
Improved clinical care
Reduced medical errors
Improved patient
satisfaction scores.
WHO:
All hospital staff
WHERE:
Conference room 303
WHEN:
February 3(Monday), 4 (Tuesday),
5(Wednesday)
0900-1145am or 1245-1530pm
 Questionnaire
at the start of the workshop to
assess the staff’s level of awareness
 Brief lecture is about the use of a
professional medical interpreter.
 Power point presentation
 1st Video demonstration showing case
scenarios
 2nd Video demonstration on techniques of
how to communicate using a medical
interpreter
 Questionnaire prior to the workshop ending
to assess the staff’s level of understanding
The nurse is to ensure the promotion of effective
communication between the patient and the
healthcare provider
 The nurse is accountable to ensure that all
pertinent information related to the patient’s
care is communicated to the patient in a manner
they will understand for sure, to reduce any
possible serious adverse outcomes.
 The nurse to ensure that patient care is
delivered in an environment that provides not
only physical privacy but and auditory privacy as
well

 They
are professional experts who has proper
training
 Ensures accurate exchange of information
 Promotes patient participation by freely asking
questions to further understand and adhere to
their plan of care
 Reduces medical errors
 Follow’s the organization’s
policies and procedures
 Complies with HIPAA
and legal regulations
 They
do not possess the required expertise
and skills to translate
 Does not often transmit medical information
accurately by using their own judgment and
opinions
 Violates HIPAA and legal regulations
 Certain topics may be inappropriately
discussed through a family member, such as
contraception, which may cause omission
from the family interpreter or dishonesty
from the patient




Promotes independence and enhances patient
participation on their own care
Improves patient’s clinical experience by
understanding and adhering to their treatment plan
Increases patient’s understanding of their discharge
instructions, medication regime and follow-up
appointments
Healthcare providers can save time and money by not
performing unnecessary test due to patient-provider
miscommunication
• Cost effective
• Reduce medical errors
• Reduce unnecessary
diagnostic test
• Decrease hospital
readmissions
• Decrease risk for lawsuits
• Improves clinical care and
outcomes
• Increase patient’s loyalty
by returning back to the
hospital for medical care
• Increase patient’s referral
to their family and friends
when seeking medical
attention
• Improves patient-provider
communication line
• Increase patient
satisfaction scores
Budget Resources
Estimated Cost
Creating, planning and reviewing this project prior to implementation
$1,000.00
Overtime cost for mandatory participation
$5,000.00
Participation hours of the medical interpreter
$1,000.00
Supplies
Total cost
$300.00
$7,300.00
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