Temple-Hablamos Juntos
Based on a community needs assessment study conducted during the project planning period, Temple will focus its efforts in two clinical areas: Prenatal/Maternity and Emergency Services. Consequently, efforts to reduce language, cultural, trust, physical, informational and economic barriers will be developed at the Temple University Hospital Main and Episcopal Campuses, which provide these services to many Latinos with limited English proficiency.
The Temple model includes four components:
- Improvement of Language Services
- Hiring four full-time dedicated medical interpreters
- Training qualified existing staff to conduct occasional medical interpreting (these people are called “dual role interpreters”) to replace indiscriminate use of staff who are not screened, trained or monitored
- Training providers in utilizing interpreters properly (dedicated, dual role, language line, telephone-based, contracted)
- Developing a process to identify and create needed written materials that communicate effectively to our target population
- Making Temple More Latino Friendly
- Training providers and staff in cultural competence
- Hiring volunteer “greeters” at TUH and Episcopal access points to help Latino patients navigate through these facilities and feel more comfortable and welcomed
- Establishment of a liaison team to coordinate referrals from community-based providers and agencies into TUHS maternal services, and from TUHS maternal and emergency services to programs and services of community based providers and agencies
- Training Future Health Professionals’ to Work in Multilingual/Multicultural Environments
- In conjunction with the Temple University schools of medicine, dentistry, pharmacy and health professions, developing an interdisciplinary curriculum to improve patient communication skills
- Assessing Improved Language Services on a Clinical and Financial Basis
- Evaluating clinical outcomes of improved language services
- Evaluating financial outcomes of improved language services
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