Hospital interpretation services are not a luxury — they are a clinical necessity. Research published in the Annals of Emergency Medicine found that LEP patients who did not receive professional interpretation were significantly more likely to experience adverse events during hospital stays. A landmark study in the Journal of General Internal Medicine demonstrated that professional interpreter use reduced 30-day readmission rates by 24% among LEP patients.
The clinical case for hospital interpretation is reinforced by regulatory requirements. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) require hospitals to provide language assistance to LEP patients as a condition of participation. The Joint Commission includes language access in its patient-centered communication standards. And the Affordable Care Act's Section 1557 explicitly prohibits discrimination based on national origin in any health program receiving federal financial assistance — which includes virtually every hospital in the United States.
Beyond compliance, the financial case is equally compelling. Hospital readmissions cost the healthcare system billions of dollars annually, and LEP patients are disproportionately represented in avoidable readmissions. By investing in professional interpretation during the initial encounter, discharge planning, and follow-up care, hospitals can significantly reduce these costs while improving the quality of care.
The most effective hospital interpretation programs offer multiple modalities to match different clinical needs. Video remote interpretation (VRI) works well for scheduled appointments, behavioral health sessions, and situations requiring visual communication. Over-the-phone interpretation (OPI) excels in emergency departments, triage, and after-hours situations where speed is critical. On-site interpreters are essential for complex surgical consultations, end-of-life conversations, and situations where cultural sensitivity requires physical presence.
Quality matters enormously in hospital interpretation. Medical interpreters must understand clinical terminology across multiple specialties, maintain composure in high-stress situations, and follow strict protocols for accuracy and confidentiality. At BeKonek Solutions, every medical interpreter on our team holds professional certification (CMI or CHI), completes annual HIPAA training, and undergoes regular quality assessments.
We work with hospitals, health systems, and clinics across the country to design and implement comprehensive language access programs. Whether you need 24/7 on-demand OPI, scheduled VRI sessions, or on-site interpreters for your highest-volume languages, we have the capacity, expertise, and technology to support your patients and your team.
The hospitals that prioritize language access are the hospitals that deliver the best outcomes for all patients — regardless of the language they speak.