In the 2001 report, Crossing the Quality Chasm: A New Health System for the 21st Century, the Institute of Medicine (IOM) proposed a strategy to improve the US healthcare system. Identifying six aims, the report outlined the need for healthcare to be safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable. The need for healthcare practitioners to understand and address the specific mandates inherent to this policy applies to many areas of healthcare. The following case study will address the application of healthcare translation services to the communication and language assistance needs of people who are limited English proficient (LEP). The article is written to illustrate the practical identification and utilization of LEP services in telehealth. This article also serves as a case study for PART-I of our article series, which identifies and explains the leading federal and state laws requiring healthcare language services for practitioners who serve Medicare and Medicaid beneficiaries or those who work in federally funded settings.
Telehealth Implications of LEP
When working through telehealth to access new communities, providers and their employers can face ethical dilemmas when working with people who demonstrate limited English proficiency. To clarify the telehealth issues involved, a case study is offered for the reader’s consideration.
Dr. Fortier, a psychotherapist who conducts sessions via telehealth using a video conferencing tool. Dr. Fortier is a first-generation Anglophone whose first language is English.
A new client going by the name of Jorge, is a Mexican-American who primarily communicates in Spanish. Jorge has some understanding of English but struggles to express intricate thoughts or deep-seated feelings. Despite this, they decided to engage in therapy conducted in English, primarily due to the remote nature of the…
