Language Access At Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center Building Bridges through Language Access Advocacy and Collaboration Sue Schlotterbeck Director,

Language Access At Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center

Building Bridges through Language Access Advocacy and Collaboration

Sue SchlotterbeckDirector, Health Equity

Edward M. Kennedy Community Health CenterWorcester, Framingham, Milford

[email protected]

• Community Health Center in Worcester, Framingham, Milford, MA • We provide over 140,000 visits per year to over 24,000 patients• Founded in 1972 by 7 mothers from Great Brook Valley• Patients speak 93 languages• Staff speak 34 languages and represent 35 ethnic groups• 75% of our staff are bilingual, of which 25% are trilingual• At least 51% of board membership must be patients

“We help people live healthier lives.”

Health Equity is attainment of the highest level of health for all people. Achieving health equity requires valuing everyone equally with focused and ongoing societal efforts to address avoidable inequalities, historical and contemporary injustices, and the elimination of health and healthcare disparities.

Source: US Department of Health and Human Services, National Partnership for Action to End Health Disparities

Health Equity

1. Organizational Commitment2. Staff Training and Education3. Workforce Diversity4. Language Services5. Community Engagement6. Address Health Disparities

Health Equity

OrganizationalCommitment

Why is Health Equity and Language Access important?

• Federal and State Standards (IOM, Affordable Care Act, Office of Civil Rights, Office of Management and Budget, Office of Minority Health)

•Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Standard 1- Enhance Access and ContinuityElement F4- Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS)

• Assessing the language needs of its population• Providing interpretation or bilingual services to meet the language needs of its population• Providing printed materials in the languages of its population (for languages that are spoken by at least 5% of patient population)

• Health Disparities Exist

• Health Equity and Language Access are Connected to Quality and Safety

• Values, Vision, Strategic Action Plan


2002 – Health Equity/Cultural Competence Committee to improve health equity and cultural competence

• Provider Champion(s)• Diverse Team• Work Plan• Address CLAS Standards• Pilot Ideas (PDSA cycle)• Policies and Procedures• Communicate


Policies and Procedures: • Culturally Responsive Care Policy• Limited English Proficiency Policy• Interpreter Services Procedures• Procedures for Translating Documents• Language Testing Policy• Patient Communication Policy• Patient Education Policy• Teach Back Procedures

Language Services

•Languages of populations you serve and want to serve

• Interpreter qualifications

• Recruitment and Collaboration

• In Person and Telephonic

• Track Language Needs, Productivity, Costs

• Feedback from Providers and Patients

• Translations

• Working with Interpreters

• Health Literacy

Interpreter Services Procedures

Verbal and written notices about language assistance

Flag, EHR report, interpreter extension, page

Staff InterpreterStaff approved to provide medical interpretation with other positionsTelephonic InterpreterPer Diem InterpretersTTY # on PORTAL Pre-book hard to find languages and ASL interpreters

Training Staff To Work With Interpreters

TIPS FOR WORKING WITH INTERPRETERS

• Always look at the client (not the interpreter) when you are speaking or the interpreter is speaking.

• Use simple language and short sentences.

• Pause after a full thought for interpretation to be accurate and complete.

• Avoid asking multiple questions without breaks.

• Speak in the first person rather than asking the interpreter to tell something to the patient.

• Remember that everything you say will be interpreted.

• Use “teach back” to confirm patient understanding.

• Repeat yourself in different words if your message is not understood.