The Impact of Provision of Professional Language Interpretation on Length of Stay and Readmission Rates in an Acute Care Hospital Setting.

The provision of professional interpreting services (PIS) in the hospital setting can decrease clinically significant communication errors and improve clinical outcomes. The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in length of stay (LOS) and 30 day readmission rates associated with provision of PIS in the Emergency Department (ED) and inpatient wards. A retrospective audit at a tertiary referral adult hospital in Brisbane, Australia, identified all admissions of patients requiring an interpreter. Patients provided an interpreter in the Emergency Department had a mean (age-adjusted) LOS 22.4 h less than patients not provided an interpreter in ED (95% CI 10.9-33.9). For patients provided with an interpreter on the ward the mean LOS was longer, (IRR 2.2, 1.8-2.3, p < 0.0001). There was no association between interpreter provision in either ED or the inpatient ward and readmission rate. Provision of PIS in the Emergency Department to those patients who require it can significantly reduce hospital LOS.

Rates and Predictors of Professional Interpreting Provision for Patients With Limited English Proficiency in the Emergency Department and Inpatient Ward.

The provision of professional interpreting services in the hospital setting decreases communication errors of clinical significance and improves clinical outcomes. A retrospective audit was conducted at a tertiary referral adult hospital in Brisbane, Australia. Of 20 563 admissions of patients presenting to the hospital emergency department (ED) and admitted to a ward during 2013-2014, 582 (2.8%) were identified as requiring interpreting services. In all, 19.8% of admissions were provided professional interpreting services in the ED, and 26.1% were provided on the ward. Patients were more likely to receive interpreting services in the ED if they were younger, spoke an Asian language, or used sign language. On the wards, using sign language was associated with 3 times odds of being provided an interpreter compared with other languages spoken. Characteristics of patients including their age and type of language spoken influence the clinician's decision to engage a professional interpreter in both the ED and inpatient ward.