5211.0: Wednesday, October 24, 2001 - 5:00 PM

Abstract #29618

Development of best practices for interpreter services: the Massachusetts ER Interpreter Law

Alice Hm Chen, MD, Commonwealth Fund Harvard University Fellowship in Minority Health Policy, 164 Longwood Avenue, Boston, MA 02115, 617-432-2669, alice_chen@hms.harvard.edu, Brunilda Torres, LICSW, Director, Office of Minority Health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, Deborah Klein-Walker, EdD, Associate Commissioner, Massachuestts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108, and Howard Koh, MD, MPH, Commissioner of Public Health, Massachusetts Department of Public Health, 250 Washington Street, Boston, MA 02108.

Over the last year, the federal government has issued several important initiatives targeted towards ensuring equal access to health and human services for LEP patients, including Executive Order 13166, the Department of Health and Human Service Office of Civil Rights' Policy Guidance regarding compliance with Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act, and the National Standards on Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Services in Health Care. During the same year, the Massachusetts legislature passed a law mandating competent interpreter services in the provision of emergency mental and health care. This presentation will outline the specific components of best practices as related to the provision of interpreter services, including components of needs assessment, policies and procedures, competency and standards, and quality assurance.

Learning Objectives: Participants will learn about (1) federal initiatives for ensuring equal access to health care for limited-English proficiency (LEP) patients, and (2) the components of developing a best practices guideline for an interpreter services delivery system.

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.

The 129th Annual Meeting of APHA