UAB Synopsis, Vol. 25, No. 26, October 23, 2006
To enhance quality of care for non-English speaking patients, UAB Hospital has established a relationship with CyraCom, a telephone-based language services company that provides access to medical interpreters in 150 languages.
“Our partnership with CyraCom enhances UAB’s translation services by ensuring our health care professionals have immediate access to interpreters at all times,” says UAB Hospital Assistant Vice President Hans Donkersloot. “As the population has become more diverse, there is an increased need for services that enable patients to communicate effectively with their care team, regardless of their native language.”
CyraCom’s patented dual-handset telephones allow patients to communicate with health care providers through an interpreter fluent in their native language located in another area of the country. These translation services telephones are available at designated locations throughout the hospital.
According to a New England Journal of Medicine article, between 1990 and 2000 the number of Americans who spoke a language other than English at home grew to 15.1 million, and the population with limited proficiency in English grew to 7.3 million. Patients facing a language barrier are less likely to have a primary care physician or receive preventive services at reduced rates and are less likely to adhere to medication regimens (N Engl J Med 2006; 355: 229-231).
“It is important to use only qualified medical interpreters when communicating with non-English speaking patients,” says Associate Director of Guest Services Maria Alonso, who heads UAB services for non-English speaking patients. “Interpreters trained in medical terminology are in high demand, especially those who speak Spanish, which is our most requested language for interpretation at UAB,” she adds.
“The new partnership will improve patient care and satisfaction by eliminating the risk of miscommunication between non-English speaking patients and UAB health care providers,” Donkersloot says.
For more information on UAB’s translation services, call 934.2096.