Clinical Excellence

March 21, 2007

Translating a Need

Kaiser Permanente is honored for its groundbreaking training program that helps reduce patient language barriers

Oakland, Calif. — This week Kaiser Permanente received the 2007 Innovation and Excellence in Community Leadership Award, given by America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) for its Health Care Interpreter Certificate Program (HCICP). The program addresses the dearth of qualified, professional health care interpreters who provide linguistically and culturally appropriate interpreting assistance in the United States.

The award, presented March 20th at the 2007 AHIP National Policy Forum in Washington, D.C., recognizes health insurers' innovation in identifying a specific community problem, establishing creative paths to address it, and successfully leading community partnerships toward collaborative solutions. To qualify for the award the health plan must have reached out to populations outside its member enrollment and demonstrate an altruistic approach to addressing a real community need.

"Kaiser Permanente's interpreter training program is an important example of the innovative approach health plans are taking to improve health care," said Karen Ignagni, AHIP president and CEO. "Thanks to the organization's leadership in the training of interpreters to serve in some of our nation's most underserved communities, many individuals for who English is not their first language will have a better understanding of their health care and enjoy an improved quality of life."

Kaiser Permanente's acclaimed HealthCare Interpreter Certificate Program (HCICP), in partnership with City College of San Francisco, addresses the serious shortage of formally trained health care interpreters, related training programs, and national certification standards in the United States. Kaiser Permanente designed a model health care interpreter curriculum in 1996, which has since been disseminated across the country.

The health care interpreter program has also established multiple internship programs and certified faculties. This innovative and cost-effective model has shown that partnerships between health care organizations and accredited academic institutions are not only sustainable, but mutually beneficial. Kaiser Permanente continues to develop the core content materials for the program and supports new and existing HCICP partnerships across the country. So far, more than 100 faculty members have received the training nationwide. More than 1,000 graduates of the program now provide interpreter services in more than 12 languages.

"There is no other program like this in the country. Eliminating language barriers is essential to eliminating disparities in health care," noted Gayle Tang, director, national linguistic and cultural programs, for Kaiser Permanente's National Diversity Department. "After all, the success of medical care depends upon a patient's ability to understand the clinician and follow the prescribed medical treatment."

"The key is the creation of professional and quality standards, sustainable infrastructure and educational partnerships. We have set quality standards for the industry and we have elevated the stature of professional interpreters," continued Tang. "The result helps patients overcome the language barriers, and helps eliminate health disparities."

To e-mail this writer: Beverly.Hayon@kp.org