Poster Presentations (Group I)

We have heard time and again that we as individuals need to be culturally and linguistically competent, however when it comes to making an organization competent – what does that mean? And what does that entail?  According to census data, approximately one in four Americans speaks a language other than English at home.  Given this growing statistic, it is imperative that organizations be able to provide information in culturally as well as linguistically competent ways.  This is often a daunting task and one that is easier said then done.

The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office of Minority Health (OMH) sponsored the development of the Health Care Language Services Implementation Guide (HCLSIG) to help organizations implement effective Language Access Services (LAS) to meet the needs of their constituents and community members with limited English proficiency, thereby increasing their access to services. This presentation is designed to help health care administrators and organizations (hospitals, non-profits, etc.) implement effective language access services. 

Planning for effective LAS includes establishing the rationale, understanding legal requirements, identifying resources, training (interpreters, providers and patients) and ultimately the implementation of services. As communities and organizations evolve over time, the guide provides a framework and assists with the evolution of LAS. As such, your organization can continue on its mission to provide quality health care to all members of the community you are attempting to reach, regardless of their language ability. The guide lays out the basic steps for implementing LAS, and the process for carrying out each step is explained in detail and supplemented with links to resources and tips on alternative ways to complete the step.