Alex Gonzalez is a registered nurse in the oncology unit at Salinas Valley Memorial Health System (SVMH). SVMH is a public hospital that provides quality health services to patients of all ages throughout Monterey County, an agricultural hub where more than 20 percent of the overall population are non-citizens, and more than 59 percent are native Spanish speakers.
It’s no wonder that when Gonzalez was trained on LanguageLine(R) InSightSM, a video-interpreting solution that delivers on-demand access to professional linguists in more than 40 languages at the touch of a button, he thought the technology was lifesaving.
“My job can be difficult, especially when you have to relate really critical information and there are families going through hard times, new diagnoses, or near-death experiences,” he said. “It’s extremely important to be able to communicate with patients in their own language.”
SVMH has deployed InSight – which also provides audio-only interpretation in more than 240 languages – throughout the hospital system to help serve limited English proficient, Deaf, and Hard of Hearing patients.
Gonzalez says he uses InSight to perform assessments, explain new medications, and get consent for surgery, among other tasks.
Dr. Rakesh Singh is the Emergency Room Director at SVMH and another of the hospital’s enthusiastic InSight users.
“Time is critical for us in the emergency room,” Singh said. “Trusting in your healthcare team is critical. Communication is key. InSight is there for us when we need it.”
WATCH THE VIDEO: Salinas Valley Memorial Partners with LanguageLine for Successful Language Access
“When people come to the emergency room, it’s one of the most stressful times of their lives. Not being able to communicate heightens that stress. Now our patients feel like they can connect with someone on the screen and get their point across. The interpreters understand the nuances involved. They’re also sensitive in a cultural nature. Cultural norms differ and they understand that, too.”
Singh says that InSight allows his team to “provide outstanding patient care.”
“I consider (LanguageLine) part of the healthcare team,” he said.
LanguageLine Can Help
For more than four decades, LanguageLine has worked with healthcare organizations to:
- Elevate patient satisfaction
- Improve health outcomes
- Increase efficiencies
- Reduce treatment time
- Lower readmission rates
- Mitigate risk
Please do not hesitate to contact us to discuss how InSight video interpreting can help your organization achieve the same results experienced by Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System.
