221367 A multi-pronged strategy to increase implementation and utilization of language appropriate services in a post-disaster city with a new limited English proficient population

Tuesday, November 9, 2010 : 2:45 PM - 3:00 PM

Katrina Badger, MPH, GSW, MSW , REACH NOLA, New Orleans, LA
Brittany T. Butler, BA , REACH NOLA, New Orleans, LA
Jamie Mcdaniel, BA , Latino Apostolate, St. Anna's Episcopal Church, New Orleans, LA
Ashley B. Wennerstrom, MPH , Community Affairs and Health Policy, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA
Benjamin Springgate, MD, MPH , RAND Corporation, New Orleans, LA
     
The rapid influx and growth of the Latino population in post-Katrina New Orleans has posed new challenges for the region's healthcare system . Effective communication in care for individuals with Limited English Proficiency (LEP) is a social justice issue that, while supported by Federal law and accrediting bodies, has not yet been adequately addressed by healthcare organizations and systems in Louisiana. The REACH NOLA Language Access in Healthcare Program employs a multi-pronged approach to increase utilization and quality of language appropriate services in the Greater New Orleans area. REACH NOLA's program components seek to empower community members, providers, and organizational administration to improve access to language appropriate services. The program targets: (1) community and client population education and mobilizing through community forums, patient advocacy tools and community health education sessions in Spanish; (2) clinic staff training and development regarding interpreting and working with interpreters; (3) organizational technical assistance in developing and implementing language appropriate services policies and procedures; (4) municipal and state level policy advocacy to support implementation of language appropriate services. Addressing LEP services at multiple levels simultaneously has led to early successes in implementation and utilization of quality LAS services in the Greater New Orleans area. Qualitative and quantitative data on changes in knowledge, attitudes, behaviors, and beliefs concerning language appropriate services among interpreters, clients and providers will be presented. Implications for other cities with new LEP Latino populations include that concurrent strategies targeting multiple constituency groups may facilitate improved access to language appropriate services.

Learning Areas:
Diversity and culture
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
(1) Describe REACH NOLA’s multi-pronged strategy to target multiple constituency groups simultaneously to improve access to language appropriate services. (2) Discuss changes in knowledge, attitudes, behaviors and beliefs concerning language appropriate services resulting from implementation of this strategy. (3) Discuss implications for implementation and utilization of quality LAS services in other environments unaccustomed to serving LEP individuals.

Keywords: Latino, Access and Services

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I manage and support programs supporting development and utilization of language appropriate services among various constituency groups, including: community, organizational staff, organizational administration, and policy advocates. I am also a medical interpreter and medical interpreter trainer.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.

Back to: 4290.0: Social Justice: Cultural and Linguistic Access in Health Care