Interpreters Bring Washington Hospital Closer to Peak Performance

Language barriers have been shown to be a large deterrent to the safety and quality of care provided to persons with limited English proficiency (LEP). The HQN Improving Language Services program addresses this issue and focuses on the provision of qualified interpreters at initial assessment and discharge for hospitalized patients with LEP. Allenmore Hospital, a member of the AF4Q initiative in Puget Sound, has taken strides to address this inequity by ensuring that all LEP patients are supported by qualified language services providers.  In under six months, Allenmore was able to increase the use of interpreters at initial assessment and at discharge to 100% for all patients who needed support.