Reducing the Use of Ad Hoc Interpreters at a Safety-Net Health Care System.

Background: Providing effective communication assistance is critical to ensuring that patients with limited English proficiency (LEP) receive safe and high-quality health care services. Health care providers often use ad hoc interpreters such as patients' family members or friends to communicate with LEP patients; however, this practice presents risks to communication accuracy, patient safety, quality of care, and privacy.

Methods: Cambridge Health Alliance (CHA) undertook a quality improvement (QI) initiative to reduce the use of patients' family members and friends as interpreters during clinical encounters.