First CLAS Standards
First CLAS Standard selected:
Which standard have you selected? What is the definition of the standard in your own words? What is the purpose of the standard, what does it do, how does it promote culturally and linguistically appropriate services, etc.?
I have selected standard five as the first standard I will wish to discuss. This standard ensures that culturally competent care is extended by health care facilities by provided the necessary assistance and resources at no cost that will improve the communication process for individuals who speak limited English or have other communication needs ("National Standards," 2013, p. 72). Safe, quality, and cultural competent care can only be provided when the communication between provider and patient is not hampered. The purpose of this standard is to eliminate any communication barrier through the use of education and appropriate linguistic services …show more content…
that are culturally sound and will accurately facilitate the exchange of pertinent information between provider and patient. Providers should acknowledge that language barriers will affect “meaningful access” to healthcare services and should take reasonable steps necessary to ensure this does not happen (Monroy & Hoeffling, 2015).
Second CLAS Standard selected:
Which standard have you selected? What is the definition of standard in your own words? What is the purpose of the standard, what does it do, how does it promote culturally and linguistically appropriate services, etc.?
The second standard selected is the sixth one. This is an important standard that makes known to all limited English or different language speaking individuals that language assistance is available to them in ways which that will understand and be able communicate any health related interaction. The purpose of this standard not only helps organizations comply with relevant federal, state, and local requirements but also requires these organizations to have readily available communication and language assistance sources for those needing them ("National Standards," 2013, p. 79). Having access to available resources and devices available and on hand will promote culturally competent care in a way that optimizes information sharing and communication channels between patient and provider. Communication is pivotal process of human interaction and is important in creating an exchange of pertinent health information between patient/provider that allows individuals to manage and retain their health (Giger, 2013, p. 19).
Third CLAS Standard selected:
Which standard have you selected? What is the definition of standard in your own words? What is the purpose of the standard, what does it do, how does it promote culturally and linguistically appropriate services, etc.? The final standard selected was the seventh one. This standard ensures that organizations procure interpreter or translation services that are finely attuned to the cultural behaviors and characteristics of the requesting individual and not fall back on untrained individuals or family members for these services. The purpose of obtaining such competent services will empower individuals to have effective communications encounters with health providers and reduce the errors, mistakes, and misinterpretations so often made by those individuals who lack interpreter training ("National Standards," 2013, p. 85). Obtaining the services of translator that is proficient in both the language and customs of a culture are crucial to adequately providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care to those requesting these services. Medical settings adrift in barriers created by language and culture are dependent on a selection of an interpreter that is accurate in interpretation that allows safe and effective communication between patient and provider (Anazawa, Ishikawa, & Kiuchi, 2012, p. 1).
Research/Reflection:
Conduct research to determine if and how the standards are applied at your place of employment. Depending on where you work, this information may be available in a standard operations manual, on the hospital’s intranet, or from hospital administration. If necessary, ask your supervisors about how the standards are applied.
After summarizing standards and describing how they are applied at your place of employment, write at least one recommendation on how the application of the standards could be modified to improve care. Support your recommendation with several examples. Your answer should be 2-3 paragraphs with APA references. These three standards along with the others are all embedded throughout the policies and procedures of my place of employment to ensure that no one is treated unfairly or does not receive care that is understood no matter language or disability. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center physicians and staff are required to take the appropriate steps that provide interpreter and translation services to ensure effective communication with all patients, visitors, and guests regardless of limited English proficiency and those with disabilities (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Nursing, 2014).
I have had the challenge of caring for a few patients that spoke a different language, another who was deaf, many that were hard of hearing, and one who was deaf and blind.
You learn very quickly what resources you have in place and the adequacy of such resources. Translator phones, interpreters, telecommunication devices for the deaf, personal amplification devices, and communication boards were used in these situations. Where there was no means of communication, these resources provided a narrow gateway of communicating and provide care to my patients. Interpreters, of course, worked the best but they were only present for limited time frames, which required dependence on other sources when they were not present. The personal amplification devices used with hearing impaired patients were flimsy, poorly made, and helped very little. Simple whiteboards are a tremendous aid with hearing impaired and the deaf. Translator phones did their part but were time consuming and at times, difficult to use when the patient, nurse, and interpreter’s conversations
overlapped.
I would make at least two recommendations to improve my organization’s compliance to these three standards. One would be to have interpreters available for extended period of time and not for just a short time frame of two hours during the day. This is the best source to provide safe and quality care to the patient population needed it. Yes, it is being provided at no cost but the needs and care of a patient are twenty-four hours. The second recommendation would be to initiate interpreter services or any other devices needed at the patient’s first encounter with health care providers. Many times I received patients many hours later from our emergency room and I am the one that has to obtain the resources needed to communicate with the patient. The first point of contact should recognize the need and set the ball in motion to provide the assisted services needed by that patient.
In conclusion, this exercise has made me aware of laws, policies, standards required by my place of employment to enhance the care and reduce health disparities of individuals that need communication assistance. Resources and assistive services are in place; it is the job of the individual health provider to obtain and secure the needed assistance to properly care for all patients. Caring for a patient is stressful and demanding, not being able to communicate with them is unsafe and counterproductive.
Which standard have you selected? What is the definition of the standard in your own words? What is the purpose of the standard, what does it do, how does it promote culturally and linguistically appropriate services, etc.?
I have selected standard five as the first standard I will wish to discuss. This standard ensures that culturally competent care is extended by health care facilities by provided the necessary assistance and resources at no cost that will improve the communication process for individuals who speak limited English or have other communication needs ("National Standards," 2013, p. 72). Safe, quality, and cultural competent care can only be provided when the communication between provider and patient is not hampered. The purpose of this standard is to eliminate any communication barrier through the use of education and appropriate linguistic services …show more content…
that are culturally sound and will accurately facilitate the exchange of pertinent information between provider and patient. Providers should acknowledge that language barriers will affect “meaningful access” to healthcare services and should take reasonable steps necessary to ensure this does not happen (Monroy & Hoeffling, 2015).
Second CLAS Standard selected:
Which standard have you selected? What is the definition of standard in your own words? What is the purpose of the standard, what does it do, how does it promote culturally and linguistically appropriate services, etc.?
The second standard selected is the sixth one. This is an important standard that makes known to all limited English or different language speaking individuals that language assistance is available to them in ways which that will understand and be able communicate any health related interaction. The purpose of this standard not only helps organizations comply with relevant federal, state, and local requirements but also requires these organizations to have readily available communication and language assistance sources for those needing them ("National Standards," 2013, p. 79). Having access to available resources and devices available and on hand will promote culturally competent care in a way that optimizes information sharing and communication channels between patient and provider. Communication is pivotal process of human interaction and is important in creating an exchange of pertinent health information between patient/provider that allows individuals to manage and retain their health (Giger, 2013, p. 19).
Third CLAS Standard selected:
Which standard have you selected? What is the definition of standard in your own words? What is the purpose of the standard, what does it do, how does it promote culturally and linguistically appropriate services, etc.? The final standard selected was the seventh one. This standard ensures that organizations procure interpreter or translation services that are finely attuned to the cultural behaviors and characteristics of the requesting individual and not fall back on untrained individuals or family members for these services. The purpose of obtaining such competent services will empower individuals to have effective communications encounters with health providers and reduce the errors, mistakes, and misinterpretations so often made by those individuals who lack interpreter training ("National Standards," 2013, p. 85). Obtaining the services of translator that is proficient in both the language and customs of a culture are crucial to adequately providing culturally and linguistically appropriate care to those requesting these services. Medical settings adrift in barriers created by language and culture are dependent on a selection of an interpreter that is accurate in interpretation that allows safe and effective communication between patient and provider (Anazawa, Ishikawa, & Kiuchi, 2012, p. 1).
Research/Reflection:
Conduct research to determine if and how the standards are applied at your place of employment. Depending on where you work, this information may be available in a standard operations manual, on the hospital’s intranet, or from hospital administration. If necessary, ask your supervisors about how the standards are applied.
After summarizing standards and describing how they are applied at your place of employment, write at least one recommendation on how the application of the standards could be modified to improve care. Support your recommendation with several examples. Your answer should be 2-3 paragraphs with APA references. These three standards along with the others are all embedded throughout the policies and procedures of my place of employment to ensure that no one is treated unfairly or does not receive care that is understood no matter language or disability. University of Pittsburgh Medical Center physicians and staff are required to take the appropriate steps that provide interpreter and translation services to ensure effective communication with all patients, visitors, and guests regardless of limited English proficiency and those with disabilities (University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Nursing, 2014).
I have had the challenge of caring for a few patients that spoke a different language, another who was deaf, many that were hard of hearing, and one who was deaf and blind.
You learn very quickly what resources you have in place and the adequacy of such resources. Translator phones, interpreters, telecommunication devices for the deaf, personal amplification devices, and communication boards were used in these situations. Where there was no means of communication, these resources provided a narrow gateway of communicating and provide care to my patients. Interpreters, of course, worked the best but they were only present for limited time frames, which required dependence on other sources when they were not present. The personal amplification devices used with hearing impaired patients were flimsy, poorly made, and helped very little. Simple whiteboards are a tremendous aid with hearing impaired and the deaf. Translator phones did their part but were time consuming and at times, difficult to use when the patient, nurse, and interpreter’s conversations
overlapped.
I would make at least two recommendations to improve my organization’s compliance to these three standards. One would be to have interpreters available for extended period of time and not for just a short time frame of two hours during the day. This is the best source to provide safe and quality care to the patient population needed it. Yes, it is being provided at no cost but the needs and care of a patient are twenty-four hours. The second recommendation would be to initiate interpreter services or any other devices needed at the patient’s first encounter with health care providers. Many times I received patients many hours later from our emergency room and I am the one that has to obtain the resources needed to communicate with the patient. The first point of contact should recognize the need and set the ball in motion to provide the assisted services needed by that patient.
In conclusion, this exercise has made me aware of laws, policies, standards required by my place of employment to enhance the care and reduce health disparities of individuals that need communication assistance. Resources and assistive services are in place; it is the job of the individual health provider to obtain and secure the needed assistance to properly care for all patients. Caring for a patient is stressful and demanding, not being able to communicate with them is unsafe and counterproductive.