• Am J Public Health · May 2004

    Comparative Study

    Overcoming language barriers in health care: costs and benefits of interpreter services.

    • Elizabeth A Jacobs, Donald S Shepard, Jose A Suaya, and Esta-Lee Stone.
    • Division of General Medicine and Primary Care, Rush University Medical Center, Cook County Hospital, 1900 W. Polk Street, 16th Floor, Chicago, IL 60612, USA. ejacobs@rush.edu
    • Am J Public Health. 2004 May 1;94(5):866-9.

    ObjectivesWe assessed the impact of interpreter services on the cost and the utilization of health care services among patients with limited English proficiency.MethodsWe measured the change in delivery and cost of care provided to patients enrolled in a health maintenance organization before and after interpreter services were implemented.ResultsCompared 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.ConclusionsProviding interpreter services is a financially viable method for enhancing delivery of health care to patients with limited English proficiency.

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