Last year, 23% of adult U.S. residents speaks a language other than English at home, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. This growing linguistic diversity poses unique challenges for healthcare systems, particularly when serving families with limited English proficiency (LEP).
Research shows that LEP families often face worse medical outcomes, including higher rates of errors in care. Nowhere is this disparity more critical than in Pediatric Intensive Care Units (PICUs), where timely and precise communication can be a matter of life and death. Despite this, the consistent use of interpreters in PICUs has remained a challenge.
A Study on Equity-Focused Interventions
A new study by Lena Oliveros, MSN, CPNP-AC, and colleagues at Seattle Children’s Hospital, published in Pediatrics in December 2024, sheds light on how targeted interventions can improve the use of interpreters in the PICU.
Before the study, video interpreter services were available but underutilized. Devices were not consistently located within the unit, and healthcare staff often encountered barriers to use. To address this, a multidisciplinary team, including family advisors and language services professionals, introduced a series of interventions:
- Device Standardization: Laminated instruction cards were attached to LanguageLine interpreting devices, and the devices were placed in standard locations for easy access.
- Bedside Optimization: Within 24 hours of admission, a device with access to LanguageLine video interpretation was placed in the room for each LEP patient, and bedside education was provided to staff.
- Accountability Measures: Patient room doors displayed the patient’s language of care and tracked interpreter usage via a tally board.
These interventions had a significant impact:
- Interpreter Usage Rates Doubled: The monthly interpretation rate increased from 1.4% to 2.7% per patient per day.
- Increased Video Interpretation Time: Average use of video interpreting rose from 9.5 minutes to 22 minutes per session, signaling a cultural shift toward prioritizing professional interpretation.
- Expanded Device Availability: The unit demonstrated the need for additional interpreting devices, improving overall access.
These findings provide a framework for addressing similar communication barriers in other healthcare settings.
LanguageLine’s Role in Closing the Communication Gap
The success of Seattle Children’s interventions highlights the importance of tools like LanguageLine’s video interpreting services, which enable real-time communication with professional interpreters in over 40 languages, including American Sign Language (ASL).
Why Video Interpreting Matters
- Enhanced Communication: Video interpreting allows healthcare providers to capture non-verbal cues, such as facial expressions and gestures, which are critical in pediatric care.
- On-Demand Accessibility: LanguageLine’s services are available 24/7, ensuring immediate support during emergencies or critical care scenarios.
- Ease of Integration: Devices are compatible with tablets, smartphones, and laptops, requiring no special equipment, making them ideal for bedside use.
- Security and Compliance: All interactions meet strict privacy standards, including HIPAA compliance, ensuring patient confidentiality.
These features align with the interventions tested in Seattle, demonstrating how a standardized and accessible video interpreting program can bridge communication gaps for LEP families.
The Broader Impact on Patient Outcomes
For families with limited English proficiency, clear and timely communication is essential for informed decision-making and trust in care providers. By adopting video interpreting solutions, hospitals can:
- Reduce Medical Errors: Professional interpreters minimize the risk of misunderstandings, particularly in high-stakes environments like PICUs.
- Improve Patient Satisfaction: Families feel more supported and understood when language barriers are effectively addressed.
- Enhance Cultural Competence: Tools like video interpreting promote equity and inclusivity, fostering stronger relationships between healthcare teams and diverse patient populations.
The study’s findings, combined with the capabilities of LanguageLine’s video interpreting services, show how healthcare providers can make tangible strides in delivering equitable, high-quality care.
What’s Next for Equity in Healthcare?
As the study from Seattle Children’s highlights, targeted interventions can drive cultural shifts in interpreter use and improve outcomes for LEP families. However, barriers remain, including the availability of devices, training for staff, and system-wide adoption of interpretation best practices.
LanguageLine is committed to addressing these challenges by offering scalable and innovative language access solutions. Through video interpreting and other services, LanguageLine continues to support healthcare organizations in their mission to provide inclusive, patient-centered care.
Let’s talk solutions. Please contact us today so that we can learn more about the opportunities that lie within your healthcare organization.
