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Good medical care depends upon effective communication between doctors and patients. Currently, hospitals face greater than ever challenges in trying to meet the needs of persons with Limited English proficiency (LEP) or who are deaf or hard of hearing. Taking this issue into consideration, KHA has joined the American Hospital Association and the Office for Civil Rights, of the U.S. Health and Human Services Department, in their efforts to overcome those challenges and to address the growing needs of our member hospitals.
The
Effective Communication in Hospitals Initiative (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hospitalcommunication.html)
is a nationwide undertaking in which 14 hospitals associations, including the
Kentucky Hospital Association, are currently participating. The Initiative’s link listed above provides
additional information about the project including a Questions and Answers
section. Increasingly, issues associated with language, literacy, culture, and other aspects of diversity are being tied to quality and patient safety concerns. In our efforts to continuously support our members, KHA has formed a Steering Committee made up of individuals from KHA, the Office of Civil Rights, state and local government and hospital personnel who have an interest in assisting patients who do not speak English as their primary language, or who are deaf/hard of hearing.
The goals of the steering committee are to:
Together, we can make an impact that will meet the needs of our diverse populations and guarantee access to safe, quality care in our Commonwealth.
The
Links provided through the website contain invaluable tools and free
information which will help your hospital in its efforts to better
communicate with its LEP and deaf/hard of hearing patients. Deaf and Hard of Hearing Resources
Interpreters and
Translator Resources
Federal Websites with Helpful Information · Let Everyone Participate - (http://lep.gov/) LEP.gov promotes a positive and cooperative understanding of the importance of language access to federal programs and federally assisted programs. This website supports fair, reasoned and consistent implementation of Executive Order 13166, Title VI, and the Title VI regulations regarding language access. This site also acts as a clearinghouse, providing and linking to information, tools, and technical assistance regarding Limited English Proficiency and language services for federal agencies, recipients of federal funds, users of federal programs and federally assisted programs, and other stakeholders. Español ·
Department
for Health and Human Services: Limited English Proficiency (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/lep/) ·
Office for Civil Rights: Hospitals and Effective Communication (http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/hospitalcommunication.html)
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Last Updated: 04/24/2008