Overcoming Language Barriers in Health Care: Costs and Benefits of Interpreter Services

Elizabeth A Jacobs; Donald S Shepard; Jose A Suaya; Esta-Lee Stone

doi:10.2105/AJPH.94.5.866

Back

Overcoming Language Barriers in Health Care: Costs and Benefits of Interpreter Services

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Overcoming Language Barriers in Health Care: Costs and Benefits of Interpreter Services

Elizabeth A Jacobs, Donald S Shepard, Jose A Suaya and Esta-Lee Stone

American journal of public health (1971), Vol.94(5), pp.866-869

05/2004

DOI: https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.94.5.866

PMCID: PMC1448350

PMID: 15117713

Abstract

Research and Practice

Health Care Language Interpreting

Health Care Financing

Objectives . We assessed the impact of interpreter services on the cost and the utilization of health care services among patients with limited English proficiency. Methods . We measured the change in delivery and cost of care provided to patients enrolled in a health maintenance organization before and after interpreter services were implemented. Results . Compared with English-speaking patients, patients who used the interpreter services received significantly more recommended preventive services, made more office visits, and had more prescriptions written and filled. The estimated cost of providing interpreter services was $279 per person per year. Conclusions . Providing interpreter services is a financially viable method for enhancing delivery of health care to patients with limited English proficiency.

Files and links (1)

url

Overcoming language barriers in health care: costs and benefits of interpreter servicesView

Published (Version of record) Open

Metrics

43 Record Views

See more details

Details

Title: Overcoming Language Barriers in Health Care
Creators: Elizabeth A Jacobs (Author) - Elizabeth A. Jacobs is an assistant professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center and a member of the Collaborative Research Unit, John H. Stroger Jr, Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Ill. Donald S. Shepard is a professor at the Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass. Jose A. Suaya is a PhD candidate at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. Esta-Lee Stone is Director of Clinical Projects, Office of Clinical Affairs, Division of Medical Assistance, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, Mass
Donald S Shepard (Author) - Elizabeth A. Jacobs is an assistant professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center and a member of the Collaborative Research Unit, John H. Stroger Jr, Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Ill. Donald S. Shepard is a professor at the Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass. Jose A. Suaya is a PhD candidate at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. Esta-Lee Stone is Director of Clinical Projects, Office of Clinical Affairs, Division of Medical Assistance, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, Mass
Jose A Suaya (Author) - Elizabeth A. Jacobs is an assistant professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center and a member of the Collaborative Research Unit, John H. Stroger Jr, Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Ill. Donald S. Shepard is a professor at the Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass. Jose A. Suaya is a PhD candidate at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. Esta-Lee Stone is Director of Clinical Projects, Office of Clinical Affairs, Division of Medical Assistance, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, Mass
Esta-Lee Stone (Author) - Elizabeth A. Jacobs is an assistant professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center and a member of the Collaborative Research Unit, John H. Stroger Jr, Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Ill. Donald S. Shepard is a professor at the Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass. Jose A. Suaya is a PhD candidate at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. Esta-Lee Stone is Director of Clinical Projects, Office of Clinical Affairs, Division of Medical Assistance, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, Mass
Publication Details: American journal of public health (1971), Vol.94(5), pp.866-869
Publisher: American Journal of Public Health 2004
Identifiers: 9923957844501921
Academic Unit: Heller School for Social Policy and Management
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

Overcoming Language Barriers in Health Care: Costs and Benefits of Interpreter Services

Abstract

Files and links (1)

Metrics

Details

Brandeis University Social media