NEW BEDFORD –Southcoast Health is partnering with language-access and telehealth company Stratus Video to better serve its patients with limited proficiency in English or hearing impairments, the health system recently reported. Southcoast Health now provides easy access to video-remote interpretation at each of its three hospitals in southeastern Massachusetts – Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
With a more-diverse patient population speaking ever more languages and changing federal regulations under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the demand for interpreting services is no longer optional, but “mission-critical” for health systems looking to provide quality care for all patients, reported Southcoast Health. During the health care system’s 2015 fiscal year, there were 42,195 requests for interpretation, 24,486 of which were for Spanish. Southcoast Health realized the need to offer its diverse patient population access to a broader array of simple and effective communication tools.
“We are very focused on leveraging innovation to promote health and well-being in the communities and populations we serve, and our [limited-proficiency-in-English] population is no exception,” Dr. Robert Caldas, Southcoast Health chief medical officer and senior vice president, said in a statement. “We have been so pleased with how Stratus Video Interpreting has helped enhance communication and care delivery in our hospitals that we are now beginning to discuss rolling the VRI technology out to our affiliated physician practices.”
Stratus Video Interpreting combines the benefits of face-to-face interpretation with the on-demand nature of over-the-phone interpretation. The mobile app, which can be loaded onto any tablet, smartphone, desktop or laptop, provides users instant access to medically qualified interpreters at the push of a button. Backend technology incorporates sophisticated automation and intelligent routing, enabling easy integration into existing processes and workflows, Southcoast Health reported.
“As patients begin to act more like consumers, hospitals are seeking solutions to improve not only quality of care, but patient experience as well,” David Fetterolf, Stratus Video president of language services, said in the statement. “Stratus Video Interpreting is a cost-effective way for health systems like Southcoast Health to positively impact care outcomes as well as patient and provider satisfaction, all while ensuring regulatory compliance.”
Nancy Kirsch is a PBN contributing writer.
