Related Articles

2007. Struby, A. Avoiding burnout of bilingual employees. The Race Equity Project: A Special Project of Legal Services of Northern California.

This short piece brings attention to the importance of not unduly overburdening bilingual employees by informally using them interpreters and translators on top of their official job. It is important to developing a plan and policy that sets standards and parameters for interpreter and translation services.

2004. Jacobs, E. A., Shepard, D. S., Suaya, J. A., Stone, E-L. Overcoming Language Barriers in Health Care: Costs and Benefits of Interpreter Services. IN American Journal of Public Health. Vol. 94(5): 866-869.

This study found that "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." Thus the concludes is that "providing interpreter services is a financially viable method for enhancing delivery of health care to patients with limited English proficiency."

Please contact Katrina Badger at: katrinabadger@reachnola.org with any additional resources to add to the website or any questions.