With 1 in 5 U.S. residents speaking a language other than English, it’s imperative that healthcare organizations develop clear language access plans to ensure effective communication with their limited English proficient (LEP) patients. Such plans improve patient outcomes, reduce costs, minimize risk, and ensure compliance with regulations like Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. But implementing them successfully can be challenging. Kristin Quinlan, CEO of Certified Languages International, outlines an eight-step process for healthcare organizations to create a strong language access plan, emphasizing stakeholder involvement, assessing language needs, aligning with laws, defining processes for accessing interpreters, integrating the plan organization-wide, providing resources, promoting awareness, and revisiting the plan annually.
