Evaluating the Feasibility of Incorporating In-Person Interpreters on Family-Centered Rounds: A QI Initiative

Area of Science:

• Healthcare Quality Improvement
• Patient-Centered Care
• Health Equity

Background:

• Limited English proficiency (LEP) patients face communication barriers during family-centered rounds (FCRs).
• No established best practice exists for integrating in-person interpreters into FCRs for LEP patients.
• Addressing interpreter scheduling barriers can enhance care equity for LEP patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To implement and evaluate a quality improvement initiative to increase in-person interpreter use during FCRs for LEP patients.
• To assess the impact of a new scheduling protocol on interpreter availability.
• To ensure equitable communication and care for LEP patients during pediatric inpatient rounds.

Main Methods:

• A quality improvement initiative was conducted on a pediatric inpatient service from October 2014 to March 2016.
• Key interventions included establishing a protocol for scheduling interpreters and implementing a tracking form.
• Primary outcome: percentage of FCR encounters with LEP patients including an interpreter. Balancing measures: patient satisfaction and rounds duration.

Main Results:

• The percentage of FCR encounters with LEP patients involving interpreters increased from 0% to 63% (367 of 614 encounters).
• Form completion for process adherence reached 87%.
• Patient satisfaction remained similar between English-proficient and LEP patients, with a modest, non-significant increase in rounds duration.

Conclusions:

• A quality improvement framework successfully addressed barriers to in-person interpreter use in FCRs.
• The implemented process significantly increased interpreter participation for LEP patients on a busy pediatric service.
• This initiative demonstrates a feasible approach to improving care equity for LEP patients.