Hospital Error Rates Could Be Reduced by Trained Interpreters

Carl Saiontz

By Carl Saiontz
Posted May 16, 2012

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New research suggests that the number of serious medical errors and mistakes occurring in hospitals nationwide could be reduced by the use of properly trained interpreters, which are not present in many facilities to help heath care providers communicate with patients for whom English is not their native language.

In a study published by the Annals of Emergency Medicine in March, researchers found that when professional interpreters were made available to Spanish-speaking families and patients, the number of hospital mistakes linked to translation errors was cut in half.

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Researchers looked at two different pediatric emergency rooms in Massachusetts and identified 57 encounters between emergency room staff and non-English speaking patients. Of those, 20 involved a professional interpreter, 27 involved “ad hoc”, or inexperienced, interpreters and 10 involved no use of an interpreter.

Approximate 20% to 22% of all translation errors made when a professionally trained interpreter was not present could have resulted in serious health consequences for the children, according to the findings.

U.S. laws require hospitals to have some form of translation service available, but the quality of those services can vary greatly from one hospital to the next.

Having translators available can prevent medical mistakes, such as wrong-site surgeries and also prevent unnecessary testing by allowing the doctor to question the patient more thoroughly for a better diagnosis.

According to conclusions reached by the researchers:

Professional interpreters result in a significantly lower likelihood of errors of potential consequence than ad hoc and no interpreters. Among professional interpreters, hours of previous training, but not years of experience, are associated with error numbers, types, and consequences. These findings suggest that requiring at least 100 hours of training for interpreters might have a major impact on reducing interpreter errors and their consequences in health care while improving quality and patient safety.

HOSPITAL ERROR MALPRACTICE LAWYERS

The medical malpractice lawyers at Saiontz & Kirk, P.A. investigate potential cases throughout the United States where a hospital error or mistake resulted in serious or catastrophic consequences. If translation errors involving patients who do not speak English could have been avoided by following the proper standards of care within the industry, financial compensation may be available. To review a potential claim for yourself, a friend or family member, request a free consultation and claim evaluation.

Based on the accepted standards of care within the medical industry, individuals who do not speak English may face an increased risk of injury, according to the findings of this study. However, if

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