Unsure Where to Start?

Discussion abounds about Healthcare Interpreter Testing. We want to make sure our friends in the Healthcare Community are kept abreast of the latest trends. 

The Joint Commission (formerly JAHCO) is looking to implement new standards for interpreter testing that will be taking effect in 2011.  We would like to share this updated information with you as there is a lot of conflicting information out there regarding interpreter testing standards, and certification. 

Joint Commission Expectations

Joint Commission has a Standards Interpretation Group (SIG) that has recently begun an attempt to qualify processes and expectations regarding Language Access & Patient-Centered Communication.  SIG members also examine issues in this field and study health disparities for minority groups and the Limited English Proficient (LEP) population.  SIG has the expectation that healthcare facilities are familiar with the Quality Assurance and Interpreter testing processes of any companies that are providing these types of services to their facility.  

In January 2011, New & Revised Standards & EPs for Patient-Centered Communication will go into effect.  These can be found here, New & Revised Standards, or at the link below.

http://www.jointcommission.org/NR/rdonlyres/26D4ABD6-3489-4101-B397-56C9EF7CC7FB/0/Post_PatientCenteredCareStandardsEPs_20100609.pdf.

Pilot Project 

Healthcare organizations should understand that these new standards are part of a pilot project to study the issue of language access.  Joint Commission surveyors will be looking at how an organization handles these communication issues and will provide feedback to the organization.

The results of the findings will NOT affect the scoring of an organization at this time.  The Joint Commission will eventually incorporate this issue into the scoring, but not before 2012 at the very earliest.  As previously noted, this is a study of how facilities are handling the issue currently.

Healthcare organizations are not expected to track if an interpreter is “certified”.  They are expected to track what skills, education, and training their internal staff interpreters possess.  They should also track and maintain updated information on how their outside suppliers of interpretation & translation mandate qualifications of their own staff & contracted interpreters & translators.  

Contract, Staff or Volunteer Information

The organization should have verified information, (where relevant) of their: 

• Education and training that is consistent with applicable legal and regulatory requirements and organization policy;
• Evidence of license, certification, or registration, when applicable; and
• Evidence that individual's knowledge and experience and competence are appropriate for his or her assigned responsibilities as required by the contracting organization.
• Orientation to the contracting organization
• Evaluations of performance
• Health status as required by job responsibilities, as defined by the organization, and as required by law and regulation.
• Criminal background check or pre-employment verification of convictions for abuse or neglect, when required by law and regulation
• References, when applicable 

Auracom International complies with JCAHO standards and regulations governing the provision of healthcare services and telephone interpreting.

If an organization would like to receive detailed information directly from SIG, they may contact the Joint Commission (SIG) group at: 630-792-5900.

While some of the SIG group members may not be familiar with this issue they will connect the caller to the appropriate SIG staff member who is knowledgeable around this issue.