Ep. 69 – Providing Meaningful Access to Language Assistance

In the latest episode of The Healthcare Compliance Pod, we unpack how to provide meaningful access to language assistance – a topic that’s not only legally relevant due to Section 1557 changes but vital to patient safety and dignity.

Effective communication is essential in healthcare, and language barriers can compromise diagnoses, treatment, and patient trust. The good news? You can take clear, proactive steps to comply with Section 1557 and deliver better care.

1. Assess language needs: Understand which languages are spoken in your community using data from local schools, community organizations, or federal tools like LEP.gov. Your EHR can also help identify patient language preferences.
2. Secure qualified interpreters and translators: Contract with services or vet individuals (including bilingual staff) to ensure they are truly qualified — proficient in both languages, medically literate, and capable of preserving tone and meaning.
3. Translate key documents: Identify and translate critical patient communications — like consent forms or notices — into commonly spoken languages. Plan for what to do if you get a request in a less common language.
4. Educate staff: Ensure all staff, especially frontline personnel, know how to access language assistance services and understand when it’s appropriate to use family or friends (e.g., emergencies only, verified with the patient in private by a qualified interpreter).
5. Distribute the “Notice of Availability:” This required statement informs patients that free language assistance is available. You must provide it in English and the 15 most common non-English languages in your state. Include it with important documents unless you implement an annual opt-out or language-specific communications process.
6. Review annually: Reevaluate community language needs and your resources regularly. Update policies and retrain staff to stay compliant and responsive.

Ultimately, language access isn’t just about compliance, it’s about equity. It’s about making sure all patients understand their healthcare choices, feel respected, and receive high-quality care.

Episode 69 Free Resource | Language Access Checklist: