This workshop will provide an overview of an integrated medical interpreting services model developed by the Massachusetts Division of Medical Assistance (Medicaid) in partnership with the University of Massachusetts Medical School to improve access to medical interpreter services statewide.
Massachusetts like other states in the nation has in recent years experienced a dramatic increase in the number of limited English speaking residents. Nowhere has this population change had greater impact than in health. Health care facilities that serve large linguistic minorities recognize that cultural competence is essential to providing health care to a diverse limited English speaking population. To this end, the Commonwealth of Massachusetts' Medicaid Program and the Medical School developed a multi-prong approach to improve medical interpreter service capacity statewide. The workshop will focus on demonstrating how this strategy has made an impact in improving access to health services, policy development, and research. These areas include: · Development of a training program to improve the competency skills of bilingual staff working as interpreters in acute care hospitals, community health centers, and group practices · Development of interpreter services policy options for the Medicaid system, and · Development of research methodologies to understand the medical and economic impact of delivering interpreter services.
Learning Objectives: At the end of the presentation, participants will be able to: · Identify the important elements for development of a medical interpreter training program. A copy of the curriculum will be shared with workshop participants. · Recognize the strategies and processes necessary to develop a medical interpreting program for diverse providers (hospitals, group practices, community health centers). · Recognize the elements necessary to develop research methodologies for interpreting services
Keywords: Interpreters, Policy/Policy Development
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.