Language often is a barrier to high-quality health care, particularly for underserved populations. A survey of health care providers found that over 70% reported that language barriers compromise patients' understanding of their disease and treatment advice, increase the risk of complications, and make it harder for patients to explain their symptoms.
The Health Care Interpreter Network (HCIN) is a cooperative of California public hospitals sharing trained health care interpreters through an automated video/voice call center. Videoconferencing devices and all forms of telephones throughout each hospital connect within seconds to an interpreter on the HCIN system, either at their own hospital or another participating hospital.
HCIN membership is offered to California hospitals and health care providers that are:
- Public, district, or University of California hospitals
- Community hospitals that are not members of hospital systems larger than three distinct acute care facilities
- Community clinics that serve the Medi-Cal population
- Health plans that serve the Medi-Cal population
The HCIN began pilot testing in August 2005 with funding from the California HealthCare Foundation and others. The founding hospitals were Contra Costa Health Services, San Joaquin General Hospital, and San Mateo Medical Center.
More than 60 interpreters are available in the network to provide member hospitals assistance in Spanish, Cantonese, Mandarin, Vietnamese, Lao, Mien, Thai, Cambodian, Hmong, Korean, Russian, Farsi, Armenian, Tongan, and Hindi. American Sign Language is available on HCIN video stations through Language Line Services. Spanish interpreters on HCIN offer service between 7:00 a.m. and 9:00 p.m. on weekdays and between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. on weekends.
The Health Care Interpreter Network now serves:
- Children's Hospital Central California
- Community Medical Centers (Fresno)
- Contra Costa Health Services (including nine community clinic sites) and the Contra Costa Regional Medical Center
- Harbor-UCLA Medical Center
- Inyo County District Hospital
- Kaweah Delta Health Care District
- Kern Medical Center
- Los Angeles County + USC Healthcare Network
- Natividad Medical Center
- Olive View-UCLA Medical Center
- Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center
- Riverside County Regional Medical Center
- San Joaquin County Health Services (including behavioral health, correctional health, community clinics, and public health sites) and San Joaquin General Hospital
- San Mateo Medical Center (including four community clinic sites and the Burlingame Long Term Care Facility)
More information is available on the Health Care Interpreter Network site through the External Link below. The site also features a short video showing how the HCIN interpreters deliver prompt, professional interpretation services across California utilizing a remarkable video-over-IP network.
Also see the Commonwealth Club of California site for an audio recording of an event on this topic on September 24, 2010.