Language in Healthcare: Assessing Medical Translation Services in the Kansas City Metro Area
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Objective: To explore the scope of medical translation and interpretation services available to support patient care among healthcare providers within the Kansas City Metro Area, including the barriers and facilitators associated with the stewardship of these services. Methods: A mixed methods study utilizing an investigator designed electronic survey distributed using Qualtrics software was disseminated via email to personnel at four healthcare facilities from January 2024 through March 2024. Results: A total of 41 healthcare personnel responded to the survey, upon filtering those who opened the survey but did not complete it sufficiently (n=7), the final sample produced 34 participants varying in work positions: Medical doctors (9%), Registered Nurses (12%). Practitioners (6%), Administrative Staff (3%), Community Health Workers (15%), and Other (55%). Majority were female (82%) and participants averaged 6.38 years of employment as their respective facilities. 94% of staff reported having an adequate medical translation system to meet the patient's needs. 100% of respondents reported Spanish as being the primary language service utilized. Providers reported facing multiple barriers when delivering interpretation services to patients with amount of time for the patient visit as the most prominent (45%). 35% of personnel reported not knowing any local policies mandating medical translation services, whereas 47% report being unsure of any organizational policies mandating medical translation services at their place of employment. Overall, 50% reported having a feedback system in place to evaluate patient satisfaction with the level of medical translation services provided. Conclusion: Kansas City providers are facing various obstacles when providing care and the majority report ambiguity on knowledge of the policies mandating the use of medical translation services. Although there are federal laws regulating the standard of language assistance services for Low-English proficient (L.E.P) patients, several gaps in knowledge and finances in practice present challenges in the delivery of care. As such, additional research is needed to explore the systemic changes needed to enhance the quality of interpreter services and support for medical facilities and providers in the Kansas City Metro area.