A multifaceted approach to understanding the issue of access to linguistically appropriate services in a diverse community

This study assessed the levels of Linguistic Access to Health Services to the Limited English Proficient (LEP) residents of San Mateo County. Taking into consideration the very diverse communities that make up San Mateo County, research methods chosen were multi-disciplinary and adapted to the community. Qualitative methodologies such as focus groups, interviews and site visits observations as well as quantitative methods (surveys with Program Managers and service delivery staff and data review) were used to determine how well the Health department was doing at meeting the healthcare needs of it's LEP population. The findings of this study suggest that for our LEP population, level of access varied significantly by the type of organization or program. Limited access was compounded by systemic social and economic barriers such as lack of insurance and geographic accessibility to services. Consequentially, the health department is implementing recommendations that came out of this study. These recommendations take into consideration the multifaceted solutions required to improve linguistic access to healthcare services including the creation of standards, performance measures and on-going activities to monitor the delivery of linguistically appropriate services.