Previous efforts to ensure consumer’s language rights have always been on educating the healthcare providers about language rights laws. These attempts have been futile in changing hospital/clinic’s policies in regards to patient’s language rights. The Workshop will focus on our efforts to empower limited English proficient (LEP) consumers about their language rights in a healthcare setting via collaboration with 10 CBOs, ethnic media channels, and the development as well as assessment of the “I speak” card. Patient’s language rights are protected under laws such as the federal Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the state’s Kopp Act and the state Dymally-Alatorre Act. LEP health consumers have the right to request for a medical interpreter from hospitals/clinics that receives federal funding, and that it should be free of cost to them. Currently, many hospitals/clinics have always told patients to bring someone with them who speak English to translate. Last but not least, I will share our advocacy strategies and experiences working with healthcare providers and administrators around issues of interpretation services for LEP health consumers.
Learning Objectives: 1. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to recognize methods and strategies to mobilize LEP health consumers around healthcare access. 2. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able create tools such as the “I speak” cards to help LEP consumers request for a medical interpreter. 3. By the end of the workshop, participants will be able to recognize state and federal language access laws around healthcare.
Keywords: Consumer Rights, Barriers to Care
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Pacific Asian Language Services
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.