Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Multicenter Study
. 2009 Dec;11(6):527-30.
doi: 10.1007/s10903-008-9188-5. Epub 2008 Sep 23.

Language barriers among patients in Boston emergency departments: use of medical interpreters after passage of interpreter legislation

Adit A Ginde  1 , Sunday Clark, Carlos A Camargo Jr
Affiliations
Multicenter Study

Language barriers among patients in Boston emergency departments: use of medical interpreters after passage of interpreter legislation

Adit A Ginde et al. J Immigr Minor Health. 2009 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Since 2001, Massachusetts state law dictates that emergency department (ED) patients with limited English proficiency have the right to a professional interpreter.

Methods: One year later, for two 24-h periods, we interviewed adult patients presenting to four Boston EDs. We assessed language barriers and compared this need with the observed use and type of interpreter during the ED visit.

Results: We interviewed 530 patients (70% of eligible) and estimated that an interpreter was needed for 60 (11%; 95% confidence interval, 7-12%) patients. The primary interpreter for these clinical encounters was a physician (30%), friend or family member age >or=18 years (22%), hospital interpreter services (15%), younger family member (11%), or other hospital staff (17%).

Conclusions: We found that 11% of ED patients had significant language barriers, but use of professional medical interpreters remained low. One year after passage of legislation mandating access, use of professional medical interpreters remained inadequate.

PubMed Disclaimer

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
Interpreter for patients who needed language interpretation during the emergency department stay
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

    1. Massachusetts General Laws Chapter 111, Sect. 25 J and Chapter 123, Sect. 23 A. [Accessed February 26, 2008];An act requiring competent interpreter services in the delivery of certain acute health care services. Available at: http://www.mass.gov/legis/laws/seslaw00/sl000066.htm.
    1. Sarver J, Baker DW. Effect of language barriers on follow-up appointments after an emergency department visit. J Gen Intern Med. 2000;15:256–64. doi: 10.1111/j.1525-1497.2000.06469.x. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Jacobs EA, Lauderdale DS, Meltzer D, Shorey JM, Levinson W, Thisted RA. Impact of interpreter services on delivery of health care to limited-English-proficient patients. J Gen Intern Med. 2001;16:493–5. doi: 10.1046/j.1525-1497.2001.016007468.x. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Rivadeneyra R, Elderkin-Thompson V, Silver RC, Waitzkin H. Patient centeredness in medical encounters requiring an interpreter. Am J Med. 2000;108:470–4. doi: 10.1016/S0002-9343(99) 00445-3. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Ngo-Metzger Q, Sorkin DH, Phillips RS. Providing high-quality care for limited English proficient patients: the importance of language concordance and interpreter use. J Gen Intern Med. 2007;22(Suppl 2):324–30. doi: 10.1007/s11606-007-0340-z. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

Publication types

LinkOut - more resources