More Healthcare Organizations Using Video Translations Services

The healthcare system has a communication problem.In the United States, there are over 47 million people to whom English is a second language. In order to reduce any possible communication barrier between a healthcare provider and his or her patient, the use of interpreters and interpretation services have become in high demand. However, adding interpretation services to a healthcare organization is not always simple. A translator must have a degree of medical expertise to appropriately communicate in medical situations. Furthermore, the cost of in-person interpreters can be problematic (and may not be covered by insurance?) with a rate of $30 per hour and additional travel costs. Having a phone-based translation service reduces some costs, but can be difficult for elderly patients to hear, and are unusable for patients who are functionally deaf, which is estimated to be about 2 to 4 of every 1,000 people in the United States. Healthcare facilities have begun to take a new approach in communicating with patients. For example, Journal-News reports that West Chester Hospital, in southeast Ohio, is using video translation services to accommodate patients. The facility uses iPads that are securely placed on 3-feet-tall, wheeled stands. These iPads provide a certified video translator for patients who speak a different language and accommodate patients who are deaf. Many more healthcare facilities, such as Seattle-based Providence Health & Services, are using advantaged technology with the facility’s own touch-screen computers. Other facilities such as Atrium Medical Center in Middletown, Ohio, are using a mixture of in-house staff and interactive interpreter service in order to manage any type of communication barrier that may occur. Whether it is through an iPad or an in-person interpreter, translation services are in demand for healthcare facilities in order to develop a strong and effective patient experience with his or her healthcare provider.