Study: Interpreter Services Associated With Shorter Length of Stay

Using an interpreter at hospital admission and/or discharge was associated with shorter lengths of stay for patients with limited English proficiency, according to a study in Journal of General Internal Medicine.

Researchers studied the rates of interpretation at admission and discharge for all LEP patients admitted to a tertiary care hospital from May 1, 2004 to April 30, 2007. Thirty-nine percent of LEP patients received language interpretation at both admission and discharge. Compared with this group, LEP patients who did not receive interpretation at admission or at both admission and discharge had an increased length of stay between 0.75 and 1.47 days. In addition, LEP patients who received interpretation at admission and/or discharge were less likely than those who did not receive interpretation to be readmitted within 30 days.


More Articles on Healthcare and Interpretation:

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Trinity Health Systems to Pay $218K Over Failure to Provide Interpreters for the Deaf

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