Video Interpreting Improves Patient Care

By Brian Albright, Field Technologies

Northeast Georgia Health System has improved patient communication and saved money using on-demand video interpreting services.

With new immigrant populations arriving in the U.S. from Central and South America, the Middle East, Africa, and elsewhere, it has become increasingly challenging for hospitals to meet the needs of new patients because of language barriers. Having on-site interpreting staff fluent enough in a wide variety of languages is impractical.

Northeast Georgia Health System is addressing its interpretation needs using a video remote interpreting (VRI) solution that allows physicians, nurses, and other staffers to quickly connect with interpreters using video phone calls via desktop PCs and iPads. The solution has not only helped improve service and care for its diverse patient population (the number of immigrants in Georgia has risen by nearly 70 percent since 2000, according to the U.S. Census Bureau), but also saved time and money.