Cultural Competency and Language Access:

Selected Research and Readings

Hospitals, Language and Culture: A Snapshot of the Nation

This study offers a glimpse into how 60 hospitals across the country are providing healthcare to culturally and linguistically patient populations. Recommendations for improving the provision of care to diverse patient populations include hospitals: implementing a uniform framework for the collection of data on race, ethnicity, and language; formalizing processing for translating patient education materials into languages other than English; and making hospital and medical staff aware of the tendency toward stereotyping. 

(Wilson-Stronks, A. and Galvez, E., The Joint Commission and The California Endowment, 2007)

Language Services Action Kit

This language kit was designed to help ensure that limited English proficient (LEP) patients receive appropriate language assistance services in healthcare settings. Included in the kit are models adopted by some states to reimburse healthcare providers for language services and a description of the federal laws and policies that cover the requirement for healthcare providers to ensure language access services.    

(National Health Law Program and The Access Project, Updated February 2004)

Caring for a Changing Community: How Northeast Ohio Hospitals are Serving a Diverse Population

The ability to connect with and understand patients is key to caring for them. Shifting demographics are resulting in an increasingly diverse population, which presents new opportunities for effectively and sensitively serving different patient populations. This brief looks at how national, state and local demographics are shifting; relevant laws and regulatory guidance pertaining to minority populations; and examples of how hospital practices reflect a commitment to assuring care is linguistically and culturally appropriate. Click here to open and save the accompanying PowerPoint presentation. (Kirstin Craciun and Michele Egan, The Center for Health Affairs, September 2006)

Improving Communication – Improving Care

This report aims to help healthcare organizations ensure effective, patient-centered communication with people from diverse populations. Specific, measurable expectations for six areas of organizational performance (i.e. collecting information) are provided.  

(Ethical Force Program Consensus Report, American Medical Association, 2006)

Hospital Language Services For Patients with Limited English Proficiency: Results from a National Survey

A national survey of U.S. hospitals was conducted to learn more about patient language services. This report describes current practices, common barriers, and the specific resources needed to provide language services to patients with limited English proficiency. (Hasnain-Wynia, R., et al., Health Research & Educational Trust and National Health Law Program, October 2006)

Last Updated: July 1, 2008