Language Access At
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
Building Bridges through Language Access Advocacy and Collaboration
Sue Schlotterbeck
Director, Health Equity
Edward M. Kennedy Community Health Center
Worcester, Framingham, Milford
sue.schlotterbeck@kennedychc.org
www.kennedychc.org
• Community Health Center in Worcester, Framingham, Milford, MA
• We provide over 140,000 visits per year to over 24,000 patients
• Founded in 1972 by 7 mothers from Great Brook Valley
• Patients speak 93 languages
• Staff speak 34 languages and represent 35 ethnic groups
• 75% of our staff are bilingual, of which 25% are trilingual
• At least 51% of board membership must be patients
“We help people live healthier lives.”
Health Equity
Health Equity is attainment of the highest level
of health for all people. Achieving health equity
requires valuing everyone equally with focused
and ongoing societal efforts to address
avoidable inequalities, historical and
contemporary injustices, and the elimination of
health and healthcare disparities.
Source: US Department of Health and Human Services, National Partnership for Action
to End Health Disparities
Health Equity
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Organizational Commitment
Staff Training and Education
Workforce Diversity
Language Services
Community Engagement
Address Health Disparities
Organizational
Commitment
Why is Health Equity and Language Access important?
• Federal and State Standards (IOM, Affordable Care Act, Office of Civil Rights, Office of
Management and Budget, Office of Minority Health)
•Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) Standard 1- Enhance Access and Continuity
Element F4- Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services (CLAS)
• Assessing the language needs of its population
• Providing interpretation or bilingual services to meet the language needs of
its population
• Providing printed materials in the languages of its population (for
languages that are spoken by at least 5% of patient population)
• Health Disparities Exist
• Health Equity and Language Access are Connected to Quality and Safety
• Values, Vision, Strategic Action Plan
Organizational
Commitment
2002 – Health Equity/Cultural Competence Committee to
improve health equity and cultural competence
• Provider Champion(s)
• Diverse Team
• Work Plan
• Address CLAS Standards
• Pilot Ideas (PDSA cycle)
• Policies and Procedures
• Communicate
Organizational
Commitment
Policies and Procedures:
• Culturally Responsive Care Policy
• Limited English Proficiency Policy
• Interpreter Services Procedures
• Procedures for Translating Documents
• Language Testing Policy
• Patient Communication Policy
• Patient Education Policy
• Teach Back Procedures
Language Services
•Languages of populations you serve and want to serve
• Interpreter qualifications
• Recruitment and Collaboration
• In Person and Telephonic
• Track Language Needs, Productivity, Costs
• Feedback from Providers and Patients
• Translations
• Working with Interpreters
• Health Literacy
Interpreter Services
Procedures
Verbal and written notices about language assistance
Flag, EHR report, interpreter extension, page
Staff Interpreter
Staff approved to provide medical interpretation with other
positions
Telephonic Interpreter
Per Diem Interpreters
TTY # on PORTAL
 Pre-book hard to find languages and ASL interpreters
Training Staff To Work
With Interpreters
TIPS FOR WORKING WITH INTERPRETERS
• Always look at the client (not the interpreter) when you are speaking or the interpreter is
speaking.
• Use simple language and short sentences.
• Pause after a full thought for interpretation to be accurate and complete.
• Avoid asking multiple questions without breaks.
• Speak in the first person rather than asking the interpreter to tell something to the patient.
• Remember that everything you say will be interpreted.
• Use “teach back” to confirm patient understanding.
• Repeat yourself in different words if your message is not understood.