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May 2004, Vol 94, No. 5 | American Journal of Public Health 866-869
© 2004 American Public Health Association

RESEARCH AND PRACTICE

Overcoming Language Barriers in Health Care: Costs and Benefits of Interpreter Services

Elizabeth A. Jacobs, MD, MPP, Donald S. Shepard, PhD, MPP, Jose A. Suaya, MD, MBA and Esta-Lee Stone, MS, OTR/L

Elizabeth A. Jacobs is an assistant professor of medicine at Rush University Medical Center and a member of the Collaborative Research Unit, John H. Stroger Jr, Hospital of Cook County, Chicago, Ill. Donald S. Shepard is a professor at the Schneider Institute for Health Policy, Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University, Waltham, Mass. Jose A. Suaya is a PhD candidate at the Heller School for Social Policy and Management, Brandeis University. Esta-Lee Stone is Director of Clinical Projects, Office of Clinical Affairs, Division of Medical Assistance, Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Boston, Mass.

Correspondence: Requests for reprints should be sent to Elizabeth A. Jacobs, MD, MPP, Assistant Professor of Medicine, Rush Medical College, Division of General Medicine and Primary Care and Collaborative Research Unit, Cook County Hospital, 1900 W Polk St, 16th Floor, Chicago, IL 60612; (e-mail: ejacobs{at}rush.edu).

Objectives. We assessed the impact of interpreter services on the cost and the utilization of health care services among patients with limited English proficiency.

Methods. We measured the change in delivery and cost of care provided to patients enrolled in a health maintenance organization before and after interpreter services were implemented.

Results. Compared with English-speaking patients, patients who used the interpreter services received significantly more recommended preventive services, made more office visits, and had more prescriptions written and filled. The estimated cost of providing interpreter services was $279 per person per year.

Conclusions. Providing interpreter services is a financially viable method for enhancing delivery of health care to patients with limited English proficiency.




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