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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Myriam E. Torres, PhD, MSPH, Deborah Parra-Medina, PhD, MPH, Andy O. Johnson, MPH, Jessica D. Bellinger, MPH, and Janice C. Probst, PhD. University of South Carolina, South Carolina Rural Health Research Center, 220 Stoneridge Drive, Suite 204, Columbia, SC 29210, (803) 251-6317, bellingj@mailbox.sc.edu

In the U.S., the Latino population increased 61% between 1990 and 2000, becoming the largest minority group, while the total U.S. population increased 13%. Limited English proficient (LEP) Latinos encounter barriers accessing health care. The objectives of this research were to determine the techniques rural hospitals use to accommodate Spanish-speaking LEP patients, the main strengths and barriers to the provision of language services, and local approaches to language assistance services. The authors sent surveys to 841 hospitals in 544 rural counties with moderate to high Latino growth rates between 1990 and 2000. A total of 319 rural hospitals (37%) responded. Survey data were linked to county demographics and hospital characteristics. Nearly all rural hospitals (92%) reported having tools to help patients communicate language needs. The most commonly used tools include: brochures (47%), language identification posters (36%), and language identification cards (33%). Strengths were institutional support (82%), staff willingness to use interpreters (79%), and access to telephone language lines (77%). Principal barriers included lack of funding for interpretation (46%), lack of local language training programs (37%), and lack of state agency support (34%). Hospitals serving counties with higher Latino population growth rates reported higher demand for services compared with those hospitals with smaller Latino population growth rates. Several innovative approaches were identified. A variety of language accommodation resources, tools, and strategies are available for hospitals to assist in serving LEP clientele. Hospitals with high volume of LEP patients should adopt a language assistance policy and provide adequate training for their staff.

Learning Objectives: Upon completion of this session, participants will be able to

• List the principal techniques rural hospitals use to accommodate Spanish-speaking LEP patients.
• State the main strengths and barriers to the provision of language services in rural areas.
• Identify at least three institutional characteristics relating to LEP accommodation that differ between hospitals in stable and high-growth Hispanic population areas.
• Identify at least three approaches to language assistance services currently in use.

Keywords: Rural Health Care, Latinos

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Not Answered