Medical care
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Comparative Study
Comparing the use of physician time and health care resources among patients speaking English, Spanish, and Russian.
The number of US residents with limited English proficiency (LEP) is 14 million and rising. The goal of this study was to estimate the effects of LEP on physician time and resource use. ⋯ In these academic primary care clinics, some groups of patients using interpreters required more physician time than those proficient in English Additional reimbursement may be needed to ensure continued access and high-quality care for this special population.