We read the article “Characterizing Injury Patterns and Outcomes in Hospitalized Trauma
Patients with non-English Language Preferences” and congratulate the authors. The
paper explores the needs of trauma patients with limited English proficiency (LEP)
and the drivers bringing them in the hospital.
1
When the Affordable Healthcare Act was signed, a provision was made for covered entities
to provide “meaningful access” to language assistance services for those with LEP.
- Meyer C.H.
- Zeidan A.
- Beshara G.
- et al.
Characterizing injury patterns and outcomes in hospitalized trauma patients with non-English
Language Preferences.
Am J Surg. 2022 Sep 21; (S0002-9610(22)00568-2)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.09.021
2
The formidable challenge that language barriers place upon patients and healthcare
system has long been cited to be responsible for worse outcomes, poor quality, and
a threat to patient safety.
American Medical Association (AMA)
Affordable care Act, section 1557 fact sheet.
Affordable care Act, section 1557 fact sheet.
https://www.ama-assn.org/media/14241/download
Date: 2016 May 8
3
Flexibility remains as to the provision of these services, and a uniform standard
as to what is considered adequate and equitable access still remains uncertain. In
October 2022 the United States Health and Human Services (USHHS) announced steps to
improve language access and $4 million in grants to develop and test methods of informing
those with LEP on how to access language services.
4
This topic is important as a growing number of patients with LEP regularly access
care with barriers to translational services.Abbreviations:
LEP (Limited English Proficiency), NELP (Non-English Language Proficiency)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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References
- Characterizing injury patterns and outcomes in hospitalized trauma patients with non-English Language Preferences.Am J Surg. 2022 Sep 21; (S0002-9610(22)00568-2)https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjsurg.2022.09.021
- Affordable care Act, section 1557 fact sheet.(1-3. Available at)https://www.ama-assn.org/media/14241/downloadDate: 2016 May 8
- Implications of language barriers for healthcare: a systematic review.Oman Med J. 2020 Apr 30; 35: e122
- HHS takes action break language barriers.(Retrieved Nov 8 2022 from)
- Language barriers and understanding of hospital discharge instructions.Med Care. 2012 Apr; 50: 283-289
- What is health literacy.(Retrieved Nov 8 2022 from)https://www.cdc.gov/healthliteracy/learn/index.htmlDate: 2022 February 2
- Demands of immigration, health literacy, and depression in recent Latino immigrants.Home Health Care Manag Pract. 2010; 22: 116-122
- Patient-identified information and communication needs in the context of major trauma.BMC Health Serv Res. 2018 Mar 7; 18: 163
- Prospective evaluation of low health literacy and its impact on outcomes in trauma patients.J Trauma Acute Care Surg. July 2018; 85: 187-192
Article Info
Publication History
Published online: November 11, 2022
Accepted:
November 11,
2022
Received in revised form:
November 10,
2022
Received:
November 9,
2022
Publication stage
In Press Journal Pre-ProofIdentification
Copyright
© 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
