The Difficulties Caused by Language Barriers in Hospitals:
Working and caring for patients in a hospital can be a tiring job, consisting of long hours, crucial decisions and dealing with obstacles that never even occur to most people. In addition to the obvious stressors related to working in the medical field, interacting, communicating and providing care for limited English proficient (LEP) individuals has presented itself as a challenge for healthcare facilities around the nation. The United States is a magnet for immigrants and the number of LEP individuals living in the US substantially increases each year. Individuals who have a limited ability to read, write, speak, or understand English, are categorized as having a limited English proficiency (LEP). This grouping of individuals are potentially at risk of not receiving adequate medical care due to present language barriers that prevent communication.
There are 311 languages spoken within the US, meaning it’s nearly impossible for your hospital to employ an in-house interpreter for all the languages that could possibly need interpreting. With such diversity in languages spoken within our American culture, it’s a better idea to develop a tailored plan for providing language access with the aid of a translation company to help guide you through the formalities. It’s always best to hire a professional translation company who has access to qualified and skilled interpreters, experienced in interpreting for medical situations. Providing inadequate language services can hinder patient care and allow room for potentially life threatening mistakes to be made. “Interpretation Services Provided by Children and Family Members,” really opens your eyes to the dangers faced by not enlisting the aid of professionals when interpretation services are required in medical settings. If your hospital is seeking to initiate or planning to expand their language services, Niki’s Int’l Ltd. can provide you with access to many cost effective and time saving language solutions. Their network of experienced interpreters can help to better facilitate communication between your medical staff and the LEP patients in their care.
On-Site and Telephonic Interpretation Services in Hospital Settings:
The general rule known among interpretation services is, “on-site interpretation is the best form”, this is due to the audio and visual aspect that accompanies face to face interpretation. In reality seeing, hearing and feeling a conversation are the most important ingredients interpreters use to produce the best and most accurate interpretations. However, in regards to some medical scenarios, on-site interpretation will not accomplish the goal. There are some downfalls associated with on-site interpreting, often times a simple conversation needs to be had, small bits of information need to be collected or emergencies occur with little time to spare. When examples like these are the case, there is no need to pay the minimum time requirement, pay for the interpreter’s gas used and mileage accrued or wait the time it takes for the interpreter to arrive. Language services such as telephonic interpretation are a wonderful alternative, when time is of the essence and a simple conversation needs to be had.
Telephonic interpretation is very easy to use and rapidly provides access to interpreters for numerous languages. This specific language service reduces wait times which are inevitably unavoidable when using on-site interpretation. Niki’s Int’l Ltd. understands the urgency that can be associated with telephonic interpreting, and they guarantee their telephonic interpreters are available to connect with you in two minutes or less any time you call for services. “When is it Best to Use a Telephone Interpretation Service?,” explains the most appropriate times in which to utilize the convenient language service. “Tips for a Successful Telephone Interpretation,” lists in detail the steps you need to take in order to optimize your next telephonic interpretation session. There are many pros and cons of telephone interpretation, but if a short and simple conversation is all that needs to be interpreted, this may be the service for you. Due to the visual aspect being subtracted from the equation, telephonic interpretation services may fall short in hospital settings. The service does not allow for sign language interpretation and visual cues and body language are lost in the conversation and in the interpretation.
Video Remote Interpretation (VRI), your Best Option For Hospital Settings:
Video remote interpreting (VRI) plays a valuable role in facilitating accurate communication within hospitals when other services are too costly or not an option due to location or language needed. VRI services can help to effectively treat and care for LEP patients in a more convenient way now that everyone has access to computers, tablets and smart phones, the service is readily available for use despite location or time. “Video Remote Interpreting is Extremely Cost Effective While Providing Pristine Communication for your Patients,” highlights the vast benefits the technologically advanced language service provides when communicating and caring for LEP patients within our culturally diverse communities.
Incorporating VRI into your hospital’s language access plan can be just the strategy you need to deal with the ongoing language barriers faced in hospitals today. VRI is the best option for language services within a hospital setting, not only does it reduce money spent on time not used but it’s offered as an on demand service as well. Niki’s Int’l Ltd. guarantees that their video remote interpreters are available to connect with you in five minutes or less whenever you need on-demand VRI services. Both audio and visual aspects are kept intact, so regardless of needing sign or spoken word interpretation VRI has you covered. “Video Remote Interpretation (VRI) Best Practices,” can provide you with tips to ensure you’re getting the best outcome out of your next VRI session. Communicating critical information in an accurate, time efficient and cost effective manner can be accomplished through the use of VRI in your hospital.
Regardless of the language services you choose to use in your hospital’s language access strategies, it’s important you choose to provide the best possible care for your LEP patients. That can be achieved by contacting Niki’s Int’l Ltd., an interpretation and translation company that can help you get on track and aid in facilitating effective communication between your medical staff and your LEP patients. Language barriers can get in the way of providing superior care to your LEP patients, but it no longer needs to be a concern. Language services can break down communication barriers and provide clear and accurate understanding to all parties involved.
Niki’s Int’l Ltd. is a WBENC-Certified Women Business Enterprise with 20 years of language service experience. A global network of highly skilled translators and interpreters are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week for on-site, telephonic and video remote interpretation services. Our linguists are available in over 350 languages and dialects, and our network includes certified translators and interpreters. Our work is guaranteed with a $1 Million Errors & Omissions policy, so you can be confident that your project will be completed with the highest level of quality and professionalism within the field. For more information contact us at 1-877-567-8449 or visit our website at www.nilservices.com.