I am working with a group of 14 agencies in Chittenden and Rutland counties and several state-wide agencies working to improve language access for clients with limited English proficiency. This learning community meets monthly, collects best practices, shares information and provides support to improve their organization's policies and practices. Participating agencies include DCF Economic Services in Rutland and Burlington, King Street Center, Children's Integrated Services Rutland and Vermont Food Bank.
Last week's session Linda Li from the Community Health Centers of Burlington and Cathy Kelly from UVM Medical Center joined us for a conversation about interpreters. Here are a few tips summarized from a document designed for mental health practitioners from the NY State Psychiatric Institute Center of Excellence for Cultural Competence. These tips apply to many other settings as well.
Do's
-Keep in mind that the best practice for service provision to people with limited English proficiency (LEP) is to utilize bilingual clinicians. The next best practice is to utilize a trained interpreter (in-person, telephonic, or video-conferencing). Use of untrained family members or friends is not recommended.
-Know how to access an interpreter (in-person, telephonic, or videoconferencing) and be familiar with the facility's language access policies and procedures. Provide access to interpreters in a timely manner.*
-Inform patients that interpreter services are provided by the organization at no cost to the patient or patient's family.*
-Recognize that the clinician leads the session, but a collaborative relationship needs to be established between the clinician and the interpreter.
Don't
-Address comments to the patient while looking at the interpreter, or refer to the patient in the 3rd person. Instead, the clinician should speak directly to and look at the patient.
-Shout, speak overly slowly or too quickly, or mumble. Instead, speak in a normal tone and pace of voice and pause regularly to allow the interpreter to interpret.
-Have extensive sidebar conversations between the patient and interpreter or clinician and interpreter in the presence of the other party. Remember, the interpreter is obligated to interpret everything that is being said by the patient or provider.
The Language Access Learning Community is collecting policies and best practices. If you would like more information, contact [email protected].
