Overcoming language barriers for non-English speaking patients

Although some of the resources or services listed may seem expensive, it is cheaper to use these than to face a malpractice suit for failure to provide patients with limited English access to services equal to those provided to English speakers. The University of California at San Francisco (UCSF), one of the top three ranking research hospitals in the U.S., had a suit filed against it by the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) claiming failure to provide adequate translation services for the patient population. The university is now a participant in a statewide effort to provide access to well-trained translator services to the patient population. This effort and the development of an in-house interpreter services department has contributed to a competitive edge for UCSF in the area of patient services and satisfaction as well as attracting more Medicaid patients, which increases their revenues.