Hospitals
About one-fifth of medical staff that also serve as interpreters lack sufficient language skills to interpret in health care situations, increasing the risk of errors, poor treatment adherence and less patient satisfaction, according to a study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine.
Researchers note, however, that about three-quarters of workers serving as interpreters could clearly communicate information and use correct medical terminology in another language.
The study recommends assessing bilingual staff to determine their capabilities in an effort to ensure quality patient care for those with limited English proficiency (Moreno et al., Journal of General Internal Medicine, November 2007).