The study was co-authored by two former language-expert hospital administrators in conjunction with Language Line Services. The aim of the new and revised regulations announced in 2009 is to improve patient-provider communication and ensure patient safety.
The standards are already in place as of January 1, 2011, but do not impact accreditation during the initial year-long pilot phase. These regulations require proof of interpreter training and fluency competence for interpreters in spoken languages, as well as American Sign Language for deaf and hard of hearing patients.
Read the news release about The Joint Commission’s language access standards.
Read other coverage about The Joint Commission:
– Joint Commission Issues Report Explaining Rationale and Research Behind New Standards
– Joint Commission Releases Monograph on Tdap Vaccination Strategies
– Joint Commission Releases 1995-2010 Data on Sentinel Events
