When language barriers exist in healthcare, the risks are real.  

Limited English Proficient (LEP) patients face higher rates of medical errors, adverse events, and even legal complications. Without professional medical interpretation, miscommunication can lead to increased risk of patient harm, longer length of stay, higher readmissions, and liability repercussions.  

Integrating qualified healthcare interpreters into your risk management strategy is essential – here's why.

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Language Barriers Increase Patient Harm

LEP patients are 40% more likely than English-proficient patients to experience physical harm from an adverse event.¹  Without clear communication, critical details about symptoms, treatment plans, and medical history can be lost — leading to preventable mistakes. Professional interpreters ensure accurate information exchange, reducing these risks.

Non-Professional Interpreters Put Hospitals at Risk

Using family members, friends, or untrained staff as interpreters may seem convenient, but it’s a liability. Non-professional interpreters can misinterpret, change, or omit what the provider says, leading to misdiagnosis, improper treatment, or patient non-compliance. A trained medical interpreter provides precise, unbiased communication, ensuring patient safety and legal protection.

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Language Access May Reduce Length of Stay and Readmissions

Language access is a influential factor for patient outcomes. For example, hospitalized LEP patients experience at least 1.3 days longer length of stay on average.² They’re also more likely to be readmitted within 30 days.³ Clear communication through language access improves patient outcomes, reduces hospital costs, and supports efficient care transitions.^4,5

Informed Consent Requires a Professional Interpreter

Legal and ethical standards demand that procedure and surgical consent be obtained through a qualified medical interpreter. Without professional interpretation, informed consent may not hold up in court, exposing healthcare providers and organizations to legal consequences. Ensuring patients understand their care is a legal requirement.

Reduce Risk with Reliable Healthcare Interpretation

Risk management is about compliance and patient safety. By incorporating professional healthcare interpreters into every stage of care, hospitals can prevent errors, reduce liability, and improve health outcomes for LEP patients.

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Learn how Martti's support team helps healthcare organizations stay compliant and build effective language access plans. Book a demo.

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References

^{1. Divi C, Koss RG, Schmaltz SP, et al. Language proficiency and adverse events in U.S. hospitals: a pilot study. Int J Qual Health Care 2007 Apr;19(2):60-67. Epub 2007 Feb 2.}

^{2. Verkhovsky, S. B., Kong, L., & Oliver, B. J. (2024). Comparing Hospital Length of Stay Between Persons With LEP and English-Speaking Patients in a Large Rural Academic Medical Center. The Permanente journal, 28(3), 270–277. https://doi.org/10.7812/TPP/23.155}

^{3. Rawal S, Srighanthan J, Vasantharoopan A, Hu H, Tomlinson G, Cheung AM. Association Between Limited English Proficiency and Revisits and Readmissions After Hospitalization for Patients With Acute and Chronic Conditions in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. JAMA. 2019;322(16):1605–1607. doi:10.1001/jama.2019.13066}

^{4. Schiaffino, M. K., Ruiz, M., Yakuta, M., Contreras, A., Akhavan, S., Prince, B., & Weech-Maldonado, R. (2020). Culturally and Linguistically Appropriate Hospital Services Reduce Medicare Length of Stay. Ethnicity & disease, 30(4), 603–610. https://doi.org/10.18865/ed.30.4.603}  

^{5. Beagley, J., Hlavac, J., & Zucchi, E. (2020). Patient length of stay, patient readmission rates and the provision of professional interpreting services in healthcare in Australia. Health & social care in the community, 28(5), 1643–1650. https://doi.org/10.1111/hsc.12989}